Day Twenty-two: Denver, CO

Home sweet home! The summer tour is over and we're back in Denver safely. After sharing my sleeping bag with Luna for three weeks, and sharing my home-on-the-road (Vina, the 1990 VW Bus) with my sister and friend Nick for about two weeks each, I am happy to be home. I had a great time with the team and everyone I met up with on my travels. I realize that being a teacher is a pretty alright gig; after all, it allows me two months off in the middle of the year to see the world and I am grateful for it.

And, after all the amazing places I visited and discovered, I still find the best fit for me right here in Denver, Colorado. There's just something about this city that is cooler than all the rest (for me, anyway)... I don't know if it's the weather, the people, the size, the mountains, the cleanness, the attitude, the music scene, the art community... but perhaps the combination of it all is what makes it feel like home.

Oh, and the Mets won today 3-1. Always a nice homecoming treat...

Day Twenty-one: Yellowstone National Park, WY

First day of Summer. Another beautiful day, another beautiful hike, and another beautiful drive. We didn't spend much time around Yellowstone before hitting the road again. But, we did get a chance to stop along the Cottonwood Creek in Wyoming so Luna could swim and we could take in our last full day of the journey. The goal is to make it back to Denver by 1:05 tomorrow afternoon so I can catch the last game of the Rockies set with the Mets at Coors Field.

Day Twenty: Missoula, MT > Yellowstone National Park, WY

It's hard to believe that just yesterday we were on the west coast of Canada, and now we're halfway across the states in Yellowstone National Park. We got to spend the morning in big sky country, kicking it in Montana. Bagels on Broadway is a great way to start the day, and it got even better when I went out to the bus (after killing an hour over coffee) to see the meter maid slapping a yellow ticket on my windshield... only to find out it was a "You've been forgiven" notice from the city of Missoula for out-of-town visitors. I thanked her for the warning, and she said, "Nah, it's too beautiful out today to give tickets, enjoy Missoula." And, so we did.

I got to longboard along the Clark Fork River and checked out what the hip little town had to offer. I came across this sweet indie record shop called Ear Candy and picked up some new vinyl, and then we hit the road.

We got to Yellowstone with six hours of daylight to cruise the park. This place is amazing! I can't even go into the details in a short blog post, so I'll leave it at this... From geysers to grizzlies to bison to hot springs to waterfalls to sunshine to snow-capped mountains... it's insane and I need to go back to spend more time here. We got to Old Faithful just in time to see an eruption at sunset (9:33pm)... totally rad... the whole experience.

Day Nineteen: Vancouver, BC > Missoula, MT

We woke up early this morning to another wonderful meal at Andrew/Branka's and then hit the road for the states. Thank you Andrew and Branka for all your generosity and hospitality during our Canadian stint.

We did a lot of driving today, and traveled some beautiful stretches... After stopping in the U District (by the University of Washington) for lunch, we shot straight to Mount Baker... for a short break along the water in the canyon. Then, trekked through Washington into the Idaho Panhandle National Forest along the Coeur d'Alene River. We stopped in Missoula, MT for the night and hope to check it out a little more in the morning.

Day Eighteen: Victoria, BC

So, when we started heading for the upper Northwest, I originally thought we'd either check out the San Juans or Victoria (hopefully making it to one). Well, with a little persuasion from Andrew and Branka, we were able to do them both! This morning we got rolling with a bomb home-cooked meal and headed downtown to catch the ferry over to Vancouver Island. The boat ride was beautiful, cruising the bright blue waters in between the greenest mountainous islands!

Once we hit the island, we drove to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. This place is like no other place I've ever traveled in North America. Her (Victoria) European demeanor and high-class disposition are attractive and welcoming. Her lush environment and lively streets are a true treat to experience. We got to check out some local art, the Parliament Building, the marina, and had a great dinner at this joint called Swans (an art/steak and seafood/brew house). I'd love to go back and spend more time there sometime in the future.

Day Seventeen: Vancouver, BC, CANADA

As expected, crossing the border was an ordeal for a couple of dudes with a dog in a VW Bus. Of course, we were 'randomly selected' to have a full search and investigation done by the Canadian Customs Officer. Luckily, we crossed on a Tuesday morning and there wasn't much of a line, so it only set us back about an hour.

Anyway, we broke on through, and drove up to Andrew's place just outside of Vancouver (Richmond, BC). There are green fields for days and quickly discovered it is the perfect (next) stop on our west coast tour. We went out for lunch and hit Standley Park in the city. The evergreen oasis spans 1000 acres and offers views of Vancouver from all angles. Andrew took us on a tour of the park, checking out the cedar trees, the marina, the mountains, and the people... This skyline shot over the water shows a typical Vancouver day... blues and greys... magnificent in it's contrast to 'popular' beauty.

We went down to the Gastown District just long enough to get towed from an illegal parking spot and then eventually got back to Andrew's to establish an evening plan. We met Branka and headed to Steveson for an incredible dinner at the Chart House. Afterward, we walked the trail along Garry Point Park until the sunset around 10:00pm!

Day Sixteen: San Juan Islands, WA > Bellingham, WA

We got up mad early this morning and hit the road for Anacortes, where we took the ferry over to Friday Harbor (on San Juan Island). After getting lost for a while (let's just call it exploring), trying to find the port, we found our way to the dock just in time to take a half-day kayak trip around the island. The tour was way rad... we finally got a chance to be in the water and the day was perfect for it. After being on the ocean for the last couple weeks and not getting in it, this was refreshing to finally enjoy the water and see some wildlife from a different perspective.

After tripping around the islands for the day, we got back to the mainland and headed to Bellingham. This place is a great kept secret; it's a hip college town meeting the beautiful waterfront and historical roots. We had dinner at Casa Que Pasa on Railroad Avenue and made it to the beach for a day's ending run with Luna and the sunsetting over the ocean. Oh, and lastly, local Boundry Bay Scotch Ale... lovely.

Day Fifteen: Seattle, WA > Tacoma, WA

Today is Sherrie's last day on the trip. It's been fun having my kid sister along for the travels; we'll miss her cynical attitude and lugging around her Doc Marten's from city to city... but she's gotta head back to Denver to get back to work. Working in the summer is for suckers.

We got a chance to visit Amy and Damon and the kids at their place outside Tacoma tonight. Uncle Sal and Aunt Pat were in town, so we enjoyed dinner with them and hung out for a while before Sherrie had to hit the airport and we headed back into the city for our last night in Seattle.

Zusa and Macie are adorable and were a perfect team for Luna... none of them tired of playing. It was great to see the family and a rare treat to enjoy a home-cooked meal on the road.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads.

Day Fourteen: Seattle, WA

We rolled into Seattle last night just in time for the Mariners vs. Nationals game at Safeco Field. Safeco is the illest stadium in MLB! The park is so rad with it's modern structure and far-out design. This is the fourth stadium I've visited this month, and the fifteenth MLB park of my lifetime... and it is the (2nd) coolest of all... truly. Nothing is quite as 'special' as Shea Stadium.

Today we led ourselves on a full-day tour of the city, hitting it all: from Experience Music Project (EMP Museum) to Pike Place Market to Capital Hill to the highly-recommended Shiro (highest-ranked sushi in Seattle) in Belltown.

Later on after we parked in Ballard for the night, I put Nick and Sherrie to bed and headed out on my longboard in search of some live music. I found this dude Brian Kenny (from Fresno) at the Chai House. He was a wild blend of Frank Zappa meets Victor Wooten meets Frank Black meets Rob Zombie... totally cool. And, I think Stanley Jordan was in attendance... pretty cool too.

Day Thirteen: Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park, WA > Seattle, WA

Goodbye Portland. We had a great time in PDX and touring Oregon this last week. Thanks to Nick's sissy Mandee for showing us around and letting me sleep in her driveway in my bus (she offered the house, but the cat allergies kept me outside). We had a blast and will be back!

Hello Washington. Nick and Sherrie wanted nothing to do with hiking at Mt. Rainier, but I was determined... so, Luna and I took off by ourselves to explore the snow and hills of the Rainier Forest. It was incredible!

I haven't seen Luna happier since we left Colorado, and I realized she is truly a four-season dog. She loves the water (naturally, as she's originally from California) and digs basking in the sun, but she can't get enough of the snow...

Day Twelve: Multnomah Falls, OR

Today, we shot out of Portland to Multnomah Falls and hiked Oneonta Trails. I realized I like the idea of 'no destination,' not necessarily hiking to a place, but investing all my energy in the experience of the journey. The falls are incredible... and totally worth it!

After our hike, we stopped by The Tin Shed for happy hour, and went back to Mandee's for an evening BBQ. A bunch of friends came by to hang for our last night in town... this is Gordon. He is awesome.

Day Eleven: Lake Oswego, OR > Portland, OR

Today I went to Lake Oswego to visit my friend Shannon. I stopped by the high school she teaches at and got to check out her studio. Her space is inspiring and she is inspiring; I'm glad I got a chance to make it over to hang for a while...

After cruising around the lake for most of the morning, I came back to Portland to wander for the afternoon. The evening found us in the Alberta district: green curry at Thai Noon, then back downtown for bacon maple bars (that's right, a Portland creme-filled maple-glazed donut topped with bacon) at Voodoo Donuts, Dragon Fly Chai latte and local art and local electronic music @ Jace Gace, and lastly checking out the scene at the Doug Fir.

Day Ten: Portland, OR

I love Portland; I'm glad I have more time to spend here this time around. The greens are alive and so are the people. The edge is fresh and the art is refreshing. But, the weather is dumb. Regardless, it feels good to be back here; I love opening my eyes in a place like this.

Today we did a gallery walk through some local PDX hotspots with Nick's sister Mandee. She's a local artist and works at a museum downtown, so it helped to have her guide us to the hip spaces and away from the wastes of time.

The evening... well... dinner at the Hedge House, cocktails and live acoustic music at the Langano Lounge @ Jarras (where we met up with our old pal Bret), pool and jazz at Blue Monk, then the Aalto Lounge, then The Good Foot, then The Bonfire, and then Hammys... a long night, a late night, and a lot of fun.

Day Nine: Redwoods, CA > Eugene, OR

Prarie Creek Redwoods State Park was spot on. We were able to get in a hike before the sunset on Revelation Trail and then hit the campsite. Our friend Neely came along with us from Arcata, so the bus was almost max capacity... and I was able to enjoy the sounds of the creek as I slept in my tent by the water. Luna cracks me up with her need to work her way all the way to the bottom of my mummy bag... it's tight quarters, but I don't mind sharing with her.

Today, we rolled north to Jedediah Smith... and spent the day hiking in the Redwoods. I can't begin to explain the beauty; I'll just say it was simply gorgeous... More photos available upon request, but for now, check out this elk we bumped into...

Highway 5 drive to Eugene in the evening hours... Late late night (early morning) hanging in SE Portland at Aalto in Nick's sister, Mandee's, hood. The weather is changing to cool and wet... but the greens get greener and we should have a couple days of sun before we skip town.

Day Eight: Arcata, CA > Redwoods Nat'l Park, CA

Perhaps we had enough drinks in downtown Arcata (at Hum Brews & The Jambalaya) to slow us down a bit today, or, maybe it's just the pace of Humboldt county... but we got a chance to catch up with some friends in the area and were warmly welcomed to the scene.

We hit breakfast at Crosswinds Restaurant this morning, complete with complimentary rounds of champagne. Then, yes, more baseball... but, this time, I got to play. My friend Pete plays in a pickup hardball league on Sunday afternoons with the local hipsters and invited me to get in the mix. It felt great to flag down balls in center and run around in the sun for a while...

Now, we're off to the Redwood National Forest to sleep with the big trees...

Day Seven: Berkley, CA > Arcata, CA

SFMoMA: Righteous. The Museum of Modern Art, though much smaller than NY's, is totally rad. Unfortunately, I couldn't take photos, but I'll share some of my favourites later on... We also, made it to MLB park number two of the west coast swing as we rocked the streets of Oak-town. There's something awesome about jamming Jay-Z followed by Hall & Oats during the tailgate party at the Oakland Colosseum.

Oh Six-Oh Seven-Oh Eight. Waking up this morning outside Berkley, we hit the highway... and before too long hit THE HIGHWAY: Highway 1. The fun gets funner. We entered the Coastal Redwood Region and meandered through the Avenue of the Giants. At last, we got to Arcata in the afternoon to watch the sunset and made it just in time for the Humboldt Crabs home opener... yes, more baseball... The Humboldt Crabs is Arcata's semipro baseball team and the games are a real hoot!

Day Six: San Francisco, CA > Oakland, CA

After another fun night in the Mission (hanging at Berreta's for dinner and hand-crafted gin cocktails), we're getting the bus tightened up at the VW dealership, and getting ready to hit the art scene. We want to hit up a few galleries today and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Later on, we'll cross the Bay Bridge and hit the Oakland Coliseum for an A's game. We'll stay in touch via this world-wide information superhighway...

Day Five: San Francisco, CA

We stayed in the Mission District last night... a hipster scene with great roadside camping accommodations. We went to this wine bar called The Liberties for late-night pinot noir. Today we picked up Nick at the San Fran Airport... he's along for the ride now and it's good to have him join the team.

After lunch in the Mission (Pancho Villas: amazing authentic Mexican), we rolled through upper and lower Haight... people-watching, dog-walking, and window-shopping... entertaining as always. The highlight of Haight, for me, was Amoeba Records! There's no wonder why Rolling Stone ranked it the best independent record store in the nation. I picked up some new music (including My Morning Jacket: At Dawn on vinyl) and we hit the park.

Golden Gate Park is far out. I love watching Luna run off-leash in an open space almost as much as she enjoys doing the running...

Day Four: San Francisco, CA

I caught two games at AT&T Park in San Fran. The Mets won last night. The Mets won today. The stadium is beautiful (though it was freezing cold at night). Today's weather is great; we're out longboarding around the city and I'm trying to keep it real with the cut-offs... look out: they're coming back. Just wait...

Day Three: Reno/Tahoe, NV > San Francisco, CA

Last night the coolest thing happened... we ran out of gas on the Interstate, heading out of Utah. Though it might not seem that cool, it allowed us to happen upon one of the sweetest parts of our adventure thus far. Along the highway, where we we stranded for a couple hours, were the expansive salt residuals of the Great Salt Lake... stretching for miles to the setting sun. This is my sister running across the salt flats... What an unpredictable yet epic discovery.

After rolling through Tahoe National Forest (Nevada), we made it to the California State line. I forgot how sudden the environment changes... It's great to be back in California. We enjoyed the afternoon on Capitol Hill in Sacramento and pushed through to San Francisco. Tonight the Mets are in town (Pedro Martinez' return)... I'll be there.

Day Two: Goblin Valley, UT

After a typical afternoon drive through the colorful Colorado Rockies yesterday, we drove past Moab to Goblin Valley State Park and crashed for the night (well, for about four hours... until the desert sun beamed through the curtains in the bus and woke us up). Today, we explored Goblin Valley. It's amazing... it's different than Moab, but equally as epic. The rock is a lot softer than Arches; it crumbles with each step of the hike, causing little avalanches into the canyon... rad. Next stop: Salt Lake City, Utah.

Day One: Leaving Denver, CO

I forgot to mention one of the most important 'essentials' to a successful road trip... a stocked Candy Pantry. Check.