Montana!!!!

Montana, what can I say. I loved it! I had no expectations of Montana. I picked Bozeman because we have a customer there and I wanted to touch base with her. I met up with her and she was great. We connected right away. She was so gracious in telling me the popular hikes that locals take and gave me lots of information about the area and Yellowstone.
She also told me that Obama was going to be in Bozeman at the end of that week. Who would have "thunk it". What are the chances of me and the president both falling into Bozeman, MT on the same week? So I offered to try and get tickets for Alice and myself by waiting in line at the town hall the next morning. Each person would get 2 tickets to go see him speak. I got up early and went to town hall where I found several hundred people who had gotten up earlier than me. I was in line for a couple of hours and got kind of close to the door but the tickets ran out before I had a chance. Ah, well. The Friday he spoke, Alice took me out to lunch (for that infamous Bison burger I mentioned in the Yellowstone Blog) and invited me to her house to watch the telecast with she and her husband. So I did. It was great to watch with people who know the community and knew lots of people in the audience. I wished I could have been there, but alas, being in someone's home for rich conversation was almost as good.

Right outside Bozeman (and actually right in town) there are many hiking and biking trails, not to mention rolling hills surrounding the town and beyond. It struck me that there is a palpable consciousness about the environment and its citizens. There is a push toward "greening" buildings and the library has been very conscious of being "green" wherever possible in their new building. There are very specific markings on all roads for bike routes (which I've seen throughout the West Coast and Pacific North West) and there is alot of encouragement to take alternative forms of transportation. People here love their environment and are taking great pains to preserve it. The library even had priority parking for Hybrid vehicles. After seeing all the beauty I've seen and seeing others commitment to their community(I noticed that stores not only have handicapped parking but parking reserved for senior citizens. I loved that!)I have even more conviction to think of what I can to preserve this country and the beautiful people in it.

I went on a few hikes and one in particular stands out for me. It was a hike to Hyalite Canyon. There are Falls on the hike and I really wanted to see them. I drove about 20 miles out of town and got to a small lake in a canyon where people were fly fishing/kayaking and sailing. It was beautiful and set in the middle of the mountains. I continued to drive another few miles and got to the trail head. I saw many signs for grizzly bears and got a little nervous. As I walked up the trail I had all kinds of weird thoughts and "what if" scenarios. It made me realize how few people (if anyone) know where I am on a given day or where I'm staying AND how lucky I've been so far. I didn't see anyone at the beginning of the trail so, of course, my mind was all over the place. I continued on,knowing what has been proven to me over and over, stay on the path and trust that all will be well. I let go of the fear and enjoyed the scenery.After all,when has worrying ever really proven effective? As I continued to climb and get deeper into the woods, I started to see people here and there and felt better and better. The sound of the water running beside me with all its babbling kept me focused on how beautiful my surroundings actually were. I got to a spot where I saw hundreds of prayer rocks. I had learned their significance in New Mexico and Sedona and saw that this must be a meditation place for people.
As I recall the rocks layered on top of each other signify the layers of prayer. The first layer, foundation, is a prayer for all,society and ancestors. The next layer is for specific family members and those closest to us and the top is for specific and personal needs. I'm sure it can mean what you want but that is what I learned. Once I saw those rocks I really just relaxed.Soon after I could hear the rushing water coming from the fall and when I got to it;a little oasis in the middle of the forest. It was beautiful. I met a nice couple there.They had grown up next door to each other on farms in Colorado 40 years before. They went their separate ways and met again 40 years later at a funeral. Each had lost their spouse and when they reconnected kindled a love relationship. What a nice place to come celebrate that! We took each others picture and had a nice chat. Larry was a agriculturalist and talked about all the plants, flowers and trees on the way back (we took the hike back together) and it fondly reminded me of all the great experiences I had with Dave out in the wilderness where he'd tell me all the names of the trees and all about our surroundings. Loved that!

Well, it was a beautiful day! I drove back to the hotel around sunset which was amazing and reflected on the day.

Next I took the trip to Big Sky. Big Sky is one of Montana's nick names because it is so open and the sky at night is so beautiful and well, Big! So I didn't know if it was actually a place but it is. It's a beautiful ski resort.
The complex was gorgeous. I cried a good chunk of the drive up there, which was about an hour from town. I was overcome, again, with the beauty of the mountains surrounding me and the rushing water to my side. The mountains pull me in alot of ways and I get really emotional.

On my last night in the hotel I did what I usually do, my laundry. It was there I met Bob. He was a "rockhound" or so he called himself. He was a retired chemist who investigated rocks (geology) as a hobby. He was an interesting character and we got to talking. He told me about his adventures and I told him about mine. We talked about rocks and where he finds them but also about their healing power. He went to his car and brought out some of his findings. He ended up giving me a little quartz "herkimer diamond" from his collection. He said it has the healing power of balancing the energy flow in the body and I thought it was perfect because that is what Reflexology does. I told him it was the perfect gift and was grateful. I don't think Bob was the kind of guy to engage strangers so it really meant a lot to receive this from him. I'm not sure what I'll do with it but it's a treasure I'll hold dear.
So... I loved Montana so much, I didn't want to leave. What happened next? I met a woman from Rhode Island who now lives in Montana and happened to have a free, empty apartment attached to her home and invited me to stay there as long as I'd like. Well, I wasn't going to pass that up! She had three horses, a dog and a cat. I loved it there! Here's a picture of the view from Betsy's backyard. Her property is surrounded by mountains in the distance and the sunrise and sunsets were both something to behold! I was able to spend a second week in Montana and relax in the community and spend more time with my new friends. I went to a lovely farmer's marked where I got lots of fruit and fresh veggies and bought myself a fun pair of "Feet" earrings. The woman I bought them from was so grateful it made it worth the trip.
All and all I loved what I saw of Montana. It's a big state and there is so much more to see that I know I'll go back.


My last 24 hours in Montana were trying. I didn't mention that at the beginning of the trip I had to get my computer fixed. I met a great group of young guys who own a computer "fix it" business and they did just that. It worked great for the 2 weeks and the day before I left my hard drive died. UGH... Had to go back and was glad to have already established contact. They took care of it but within 12 hours my phone and my GPS(AMOS) died. Okay, God, what are you trying to tell me? Let's just say my 11 hour drive to Colorado was quiet to say the least. No AMOS, no phone, just me and open road. More to come about that!

Yellowstone, WYOMING!

When I was a little girl I used to ride my purple bike with the white banana seat down Larchwood Street. It was a beautiful crisp fall day and there were brown leaves all over the street. I remember telling myself not to drive over the leaves because I didn't want them to get hurt so I did my best to drive around them. At that time I really believed that everything had feelings and it was my job to make sure nothing got hurt. My stuffed animals were not to be thrown off the bed at night and were always strategically placed, with love. I had plants whose leaves I washed with a wet towel and little animal figurines dispersed between that had little stories of their own. This vivid memory came to me the day after my trip to Yellowstone. Why? Well, I think it was my encounter with the Bison. As I was driving through the park and thinking that maybe today wasn't going to be my day to see wildlife, I noticed slowing traffic. Lo and behold, a large herd of Bison were crossing the road. They were huge and so close that I was scared but the only thing that ran through my mind was how this road was built in the middle of their world. I'm sure the Bison are used to it by now, but I wasn't. We sat and watched them lumber across making that loud noise they make. Not quite a growl and not a moo; sort of a loud grunt. A few miles later a lone Bison was walking in the street right next to my car. I could practically touch it!We all stopped again while he meandered along moving toward whatever his destination. No one rushing him, believe me! In the flash of the camera I had another flash. I had just eaten a Bison burger 2 days before!! I couldn't shake the awful feeling that went through me. I have no idea what to make of it all except to say that I have recovered my reverence for all things; whether human,animal,plant or formation of another kind. Those feelings I carried as a little girl have come flooding back to life in full force.

And Yellowstone? It was a nature lover's amusement park!!!
It was all so spectacular. I couldn't believe what I got to see! I got up very early in the morning and drove the hour and half from Montana to get there. It was very early and unseasonably cold on this day. The temperature never got above 50 and it felt like fall.I had worn shorts so it was a good thing all my wintry stuff was in the trunk.I grabbed my fleece.Can you imagine, in August?

I was told by a few locals in Bozeman to take a different route than the popular West entrance of the park. The west entrance brings you to Old Faithful,first, which I did want to see, but there was so much more I didn't want to miss. The North entrance is less populated and where (I was told) there was more of a chance of spotting wildlife. First stop was the Mammoth Hot Springs. I felt like I was on another planet! That hot water bubbling up from the earth creating rock formations were like nothing I'd ever seen.The geysers were everywhere. I walked the platforms between the eruptions spending time seeing all I could see. They were very clear that we were not to walk anywhere but the planks because of the vulnerability of the terrain.

Next was the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone! It had a beautiful waterfall and the rock formations and color combinations were spectacular. I had to throw in this picture of a tree (the pointed trunk with no stems or leaves). It looks hand carved, sharpened and glazed. It had a twisted trunk and was another beautiful display of nature's power.



So if that wasn't enough there was the beautiful Yellowstone lake! This lake has the highest elevation of all lakes in North America! I stopped here and had a picnic. It was beautiful and I saw a bald eagle there,too.


Last but certainly not least was Good "Ole" Faithful. Now, this is ignorance on my part but I didn't know that Old Faithful was called Old Faithful because she goes off like clockwork every (just about) hour. There is a big clock counting down and people wait for her to erupt. None of the other geysers are predicable but she is. So not knowing this, I followed the signs and got to the exact spot which is surrounded by a gorgeous lodge. There are viewing areas everywhere and people were lined up on wooden platforms just talking and waiting. I had no idea what was going on so I went over sat down, front row, and wondered what was going to happen. What I didn't know was that these people had been waiting for an hour and she was about to erupt. Timing is everything! My friend called me Forest Gump on this trip because I am lucky enough to stumble onto these amazing moments of serendipity! I got to see her erupt soon after I arrived. It was amazing!
Throughout the day I experienced changes in elevation from 5000 to 8500 within minutes, plateaus,falls,geysers,canyons and wildlife. The weather? wind, rain, hale and sun. It covered the natural gamut and I wouldn't have had it any other way. It captured nature at it's best and I loved this roller coaster ride! The drive home was slow and fulfilling while I tried to process all of what I had seen!
I have been in Montana for a week and thought Yellowstone deserved it's own post. In a couple of days I'll be telling you about BEAUTIFUL Montana!

Salt-Lake City

Well, another interesting drive. Mostly highway driving, straight through the mountains and plains of Idaho and into Utah. It was a strange weather day and the humidity combined with clouds then darkness created a deeply colored rainbow which appeared through the mountains. I tried to take a picture but it didn't come out. I sure do need a driver for those Kodak moments!
Got here around 8pm on a Wednesday night and was just happy to land. That's how I've felt on the last couple of drives-grateful to be somewhere safely. I am realizing how lucky I've been that nothing has happened. Well, until I opened my computer. The computer didn't like the drive, apparently, because when I opened it half the screen was black. I made a couple of calls when I was in Salt Lake City and didn't feel comfy with any of the responses so I decided to wait. I have to say as inconvenient as it was (because it is my life line in so many ways) I considered it no big deal in a sea of possible mishaps. The beauty is that the screen came back to full screen after a couple of days so I was able to delay a decision until I felt more comfortable.
It is amazing how I've learned to consistently listen to my inner alarms. If I get an uncomfortable feeling whether because of a particular location or how someone sounds or just a feeling, I listen and act on it. People have asked me how I decide where I'm going next or what I'm going to see and the only thing I can say is that it's a feeling. Certainly there are things I've always wanted to see but for the most part, I just decide what seems like a good idea at the time. Sometimes I get an icky feeling and don't go somewhere I had planned or I leave earlier and sometimes I get a great vibe and stay somewhere longer. I leave a lot of room for whatever is supposed to happen next in the experience.I have very few expectations of what I'm supposed to do and because of that have had some great spontaneous moments. I always know when my visit somewhere is complete/when I feel satisfied. Sometimes it's seeing something beautiful and sometimes it's a beautiful conversation with someone. I just get this feeling that, "ahh, I'm done here".And that's all there is to it.

Now about Salt Lake City.

My whole point for going to Salt Lake was the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I've always wanted to hear them sing,live. Everything else I did was a bonus. I found out they do their live weekly TV broadcast every Sunday. It was morning from 9:30 -10:00 am, the day I was leaving, so I planned to go and found out what to do. In the meantime, I decided to tour the city and check out the Mormon Temple.
I got to the Temple Square area and looked inside the gate and "Wow" there were 4 (at least 4)wedding parties getting their picture taken. Now I know that family is of the utmost importance in the Mormon religion, but what the heck was that!?! Someone also looking on said they heard ceremonies are scheduled up to every 15 minutes.I decided to go to the Church of Latter Day Saints Visitor Center to find out. That is where I met the two sisters (Mormon missionaries).Sister Palm and Sister Dee were delightful! I spent a couple of hours with them, learning about their religion and their personal relationship with God. It was amazing! The girls (they were very young)explained that there are so many weddings scheduled in this particular temple because it was built by the pioneers of their religion. So you can imagine that having a sacred/binding ceremony in this temple would carry a special sigificance. Temples are specifically used for ceremonies like weddings and "bindings". Families who go for Binding ceremonies go to declare their desire to be bound for life and life eternal. This ceremony certainly makes death easier to bear because through this ceremony they are assured to see each other in the afterlife. They also have chapels (comparable to where Christians go on Sunday morning) where they go to worship and study the word of God.
I just loved their conviction and passion for what they believe. I learned so much about the Mormons and things I didn't know and dispelled some things I assumed. I had so much respect for them and their deep reverence for their own path.

I could go on and on but suffice it to say, we talked about everything from the structure of the building to the divorce of one of the girls' moms. I was able to give her my experience about how to help her mom, through her divorce, namely, let her have her feelings.
So we all hugged after our time together and they thanked me for being so nice to them (it was easy).
I just reeled over that conversation. It provoked alot of thought about my own spiritual path. It was a great afternoon.


Next stop that evening was a trip to a place called the Kura-door. This was a Japanese bath house and Spa. My friend Vanessa told me about it and I made an appointment right away. I learned, at this Spa, that the Japanese have the bath houses as a means of washing away the concerns of the day and cleansing the soul as means to refresh your spirit not necessarily as a way to just clean the body. It's a spiritual act. In this Spa there were several treatments available. I took the standard package of a Japanese bath and then an hour massage. OH MY GOSH!! WOW!! It was great. When I arrived they gave me slippers and a robe. There was a reading room/meditation room/steam and sauna. They call you into the private bath that someone has prepared. Someone comes in with you to give you your choices for bath salts and teas available. There was a bowl next to the bath with sliced cucumbers for your eyes and cool towels for your neck because the bath was HOT. Soft meditation music played combined with the rush of waves in the background. The room was filled with the scent of lavender and candles were placed everywhere. Can you say, RELAXING?
When you hear the gong it's time to move into the next phase. You can read/meditate or go in the sauna while you wait. I went to the reading room and read about the baths while waiting for my massage. Diane was my massage therapist. She was the senior therapist who has been in the field of healing arts since 1972. This massage used all hot oil and she kept a wet/hot towel on my heart chakra (chest area)the whole time to give a feeling of being nurtured... Oh my GOSH! I can't tell you how amazing it was.....She ended with something called Himalayan Bull call which clears the mind and believe me it did...LOVED IT!

My last day was Sunday, the day I was going to hear the choir. I couldn't wait. I got ready, checked out of the hotel and was at the Convention Center very early. Diane, the massage therapist, said to get there early so I could sit up front and get the full affect of the choir combined with the beautiful symphony. So I did. It was fun to see the cameras set up and the broadcast ready to roll. I didn't think they'd allow cameras so I didn't bring mine. Once I realized I could take a picture, I tried to take one with my phone, but it came out kind of blurry. I added it anyway. They were spectacular. I could feel those voices vibrating right through me. I was completely absorbed in the beautiful sound. The songs were gorgeous and I knew they were singing just for me when they played the theme to my favorite musical of all time,"Sound of Music". I just couldn't believe it, What a Gift!

Next stop Bozeman, Montana.

Boise, Idaho?

Well, now, here's a side trip I wasn't planning on! Boise, Idaho. I really didn't have a direct route to Salt Lake City (my next plan) from South West Oregon so I thought I'd stop halfway and Boise was sort of halfway. There was no interstate in any direction so even this halfway point took 9 hours.

The drive to Boise was nothing short of exhilarating with a little scary mixed in. I knew I'd be taking smaller roads, which I usually prefer, but in this case there wasn't a choice. I was going over a mountain range where I had heard there were a few wild fires from the heatwave and lightening storm so when I got to my first highway (if you want to call it that) there was a sign that said, Closed due to Fire. I thought, "Uh,oh" and then realized that whatever was suposed to happen I'd be taken care of.When I got to it I learned I was only going to be on that stretch for 17 miles and that section was open. Can you say,GRATEFUL!
It was a long journey through the plains and over the mountains of Oregon. As I drove across that long stretch of..um,nothing...I noticed that I had no cell phone reception and no stations coming in on the radio. For 6 hours I had no cell phone or radio. You can imagine the excitement when I realized the only thing I'd be entertained by were the conversations happening in my head. YIKES! I just kept reminding myself that all was well and kept focusing on the beauty of the terrain and soon I started to smell sweet sage (memories of Taos came flooding in)and realized how lucky I was to even be there!

I didn't realize South Eastern Oregon was mostly high desert. I guess I never really thought about it. There was a beautiful river running through the mountains and the smell was so sweet and more so because of the little spurts of rain along the way.

I stayed right near Boise State University which has a beautiful river next to it. I took a walk each day down by the river and really loved watching all the people tubing/kayaking and fishing. There were a few areas that had white water so it really carried them down the river. There were swings tied to trees where people swung out and dropped into the middle of the river. Fun!
There was a nice park on the other side of the river where I parked my car and at the end of each walk just laid down staring up at the trees and smelling the fresh air. It gave me a chance to feel like a little kid. I always loved laying in the grass and watching the little critters climb up and down the blades.
I spent time in Boise reflecting on where I've been so far and the people I've met along the way. My couple of days in Boise were a time of rest and reflection. It was the perfect place for that...
Next stop, Saltlake City, Utah....

Crater Lake and Ashland Oregon

I have to share that by this part of my journey, if I've learned nothing else, I've learned that the age-old saying: today is the most important day of your life is absolutely true! First of all, it's the only one we have and I want to squeeze the life right out of it (or into it). I've talked about this being true and knowing one day at a time helps me with that but this trip has brought it home for me. There is nothing constant, things are always changing and it has taught me so much about the importance of the moment and just going with it. Because the other crucial lesson for me is not to force solutions. From experience I know it doesn't work anyway. I still try and there are times when I am under the illusion that I have control but if I spend my days trying to control outcomes I miss what's happening around me. I don't want to do that on this trip. I don't want to do it anywhere. I am grateful to have the constant practice. So I'm driving through Oregon after reflecting on this thought and saw a sign on a hardware store marquis, no less: It's hard to see today when you're looking at tomorrow!Yet another moment of divine timing!

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do in Oregon but I knew I wanted to see Ashland. Some of my New Mexico friends have been there and loved it. A friend of theirs had moved to Ashland and I thought it would be fun to meet her. So I did. She was a gentle soul and I really enjoyed meeting for a cold drink and a little visit. It always feels better to have a connection in a foreign place. You never know what can happen. I've been lucky but I don't take my health and the fact I've been absent any major issues, for granted.


Ashland is the home of the "Oregon Shakespeare Festival". There are 3 theaters right within the same block where plays of all kinds (mostly Shakespearean) rotate through. They have shows everyday at 2 and 8 pm. From what people had said,"A must see". I love theater so I planned to go. I ended up getting a standing room only seat for Don Quixote.

I was worried because you know Shakespeare, that could be 3 hours on my feet. Ironically, it rained that night and because half the theater was outside, everyone was standing in the "standing room only" section. Alot of people decided to leave because they announced a voucher for a show of their choice later. So when it stopped raining and the play was in full swing, I found a great seat!
I am so glad I paid for standing room only. Loved the play!

As I mentioned earlier, there was a heatwave in Oregon. When I arrived, 10pm it was 97 degrees and the next day it was 113. Yikes, it was hot. The problem in places like Oregon is the threat of wild fires. There were many threats of them and lots of talk on the news. I had no clue what to avoid, if anything, so I went about my days. I had looked on a map and saw a place called Crater Lake. It was surrounded by 4 different National forests and I knew the drive would be beautiful and thought, "great, here's a place I can go cool off". So I took a day and drove about an hour and a half through the woods up a mountain. I kept thinking I went the wrong way because AMOS was taking me to the top of a mountain and I was picturing a lake to sit at the foot of a mountain. Well, to my surprise, this is a very different lake.
I had never heard of it but it is the deepest lake in the US and the 7th deepest in the world. A gorgeous lake formed when a volcano erupted and the core of the volcano collapsed. "Tranquility born out of turbulance" was the quote on the wall. This is proof that out of the ashes can come a beautiful transformation. Whenever I'm in doubt about this being true, from now on, I can think of Crater Lake. This lake is sooo blue and is called the sapphire jewel. It is surrounded by gorgeous formations and was so large and clear it looked surreal.
When I first saw it I felt like I did when I first looked at the Grand Canyon.It can't be described and so amazing that I almost couldn't process its size and beauty. I was mesmerized! I stayed and journaled,and again,sat in awe of another natural wonder. I put up a few pictures because I'm hoping you can see and feel the experience. I couldn't believe my luck,to have just tripped on this while looking at a map. I also met Jerry at Crater Lake.
As we were both taking pictures, we got to talking. Jerry was from Portland.Well, not from Portland but that's where he lived. We had a nice chat. He and his adult daughter were camping there for a few days and she was kind of mad at him so he was on his own for a while. He invited me into the lodge (which is a large gorgeous log cabin overlooking the lake that people come from all over to stay in) for iced tea so we went in and talked for a couple of hours. We got to know a bit about each other and exchanged stories. I know I've said this a million times but these parallel experiences of having a nature adventure combined with the adventure of learning about a new person is really an experience that overwhelms me. I just love hearing a person's unique story; who they are, where they came from and what they've experienced! These adventures are their own kind of jewel; equally satisfying. I have this beautiful mosaic in my mind of the people I've met and the things I've seen.

After a full day at the lake, it was time to head back. It was getting late and the sun was starting to set. I had to travel through alot of forest to get back to the hotel. It looked hazy and was hot and I wondered (because I could smell it) if the haze was due to the wild fires.I didn't know where they were but I also didn't want to find out. As I drove home to the hotel, I saw a beautiful water fall and wanted to stop and take a couple of pictures, so I did.It was amazing for lots of reasons. The force of the water was palpable and the water must have been really cold because it felt like a cold front as I got closer and believe me it felt great! The drive continued. I had the sun roof open and the AC on. I love to experience the smells of my surroundings so even if it's hot I keep the sunroof open everywhere I go.When I got to the hotel I touched my head and when I did I felt a lump. I got nervous because I thought it might be a tic but when I pulled it out of my scalp it was an embedded chunk of ash. Yikes, I guess it had blown through the forest.When I asked someone they said the ash can travel miles from the fire. I guess it was from the open sunroof. I didn't realize I was so close. I found out the next day that there were a few fires north of my hotel which meant right around the forests of Crater Lake. Hmmm.


I spent some time walking around Ashland the last day. It's a quaint little town with shops and galleries. I'm not a big shopper when there are so many other things to see but I really like the part of being in shops where I get to talk with people!

Well, Here marks the day, leaving Oregon means I'm heading East! Next stop, Idaho.

The Drive to Oregon!

Well, here I am in Medford Oregon, close to Ashland which is what I came to see. I have landed here at a time when they are breaking records for heat. It was 113 degrees today and this is the middle of fire season so there was a fire about 30 miles north of me... But before I tell you about all that, let me start by telling you about the drive from California! I feel like it deserves its own post.

It was spectacular and after talking with a couple people, the only word that makes any sense is Majestic! Some places are so beyond words that it feels silly trying to label them. I kept thinking "This is where God lives". Now, let's face it, God is everywhere but sometimes it's more obvious than others and this is one of those times. Describing this area is like trying to describe God. I have become comfortable with the idea that it's impossible to describe or understand the mysteries of God so in this case let's just say it's an experience not a view. My experience? I felt a surge of total love almost a feeling of euphoria, like I was really small; a good small like I was part of a vast universe; the kind of small where I felt completely protected and hugged in a way that I knew everything was/is okay and exactly as it should be,in a way of total unconditional love!

“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” .I got this quote from my friend Jim and I am delighted to say that is one of my most important lessons. The old saying that it's about the journey is the truth. I've never been much of a goal person, anyway. I always enjoy the process of things more than the end result. This trip proves that to me. I'm so in it I forget that I'm on a cross country journey sometimes. I am often so satisfied by the drive somewhere that I get to my destination and think, "Okay, now why was I coming here?"

As with most drives,the decision to take the scenic route meant lots more time. If I had taken the highway it would have been 6 hours but this was 12. I drove the coast and went through Avenue of the Giants in Northern California... The Giants are Redwoods... and man,driving through those parks with the river then ocean within view was magical. It made the trees in Muir Woods look puny! These are what I think they call,first growth, virgin trees. They are tremendous!! I can smell them as I write this. I saw a sign for a place where you could drive through a tree; I pulled off. I happened to be talking to my friend Ally so she came through the tree with me. It's fun to take some of this journey with people!
I used to think of Northern California as San Francisco and it is but there are about 8 hours of coastal driving past San Francisco and WOWOWOWOW! you really need to see it.
Driving along I gave myself permission to just stop when I thought I saw something interesting and as I was going along listening to Spiritual music (fitting soundtrack), I saw a group of cars stopped taking pictures so I pulled over and there were a herd of Elk off in the distance.
They were so peaceful and beautiful. I saw many more Elk along the way.
Getting through the Avenue of the Giants and being completely awestruck, I ended up winding my way up a mountain filled with more Redwoods and through the forest I was able to peak at open ocean. Exactly what I pictured the Oregon Coast to look like, but suffice it to say, I was still in California!

Finally I started through the windy mountain areas of Oregon. It was around 9pm and really hot I couldn't figure it out but found out the next day, yes, you know. Heat wave! More to come on Oregon...