The Close

The Prius is stuffed to the brim, and so are we. I'm eager to bring into existence all of the dreams that have gathered while we traveled. We're on our way back home now. We're in a hotel room in Phoenix, about to drive to El Paso, and then we'll be getting into San Antonio pretty soon after that. The trip rarely went as planned, but everything fell into place. We weren't always comfortable, and the food wasn't always gourmet, but somehow we managed to get by. I have learned that I can be a pretty adaptable person if I want to be.

So anyway, we went to the Laser Spectacular in San Rafael. Selling merch was hectic and the staff were Nazis, but we made some good money. Nick, Jeff, Bella, Justine, and her sis all showed up late because they had blown a flat on the way. While tripping, what hell. After dinner, we went to a delicious restaurant in San Rafael with Dean's family and Alan Parsons and his wife. I definitely had way too much to drink that night, but they kept the wine flowing.

After the weekend, we drove up to Cotati to meet up with Isis and Tim. It was really chill.. we saw The Nines and went wine tasting at a couple of nearby wineries. We got a few bottles of wine and also got some delicious produce and nuts at a farmer's market. We spent the evening before Isis's birthday (which happens to be the same day as our anniversary) with them and ate some awesome food with a couple of friends, Michelle and Lisa. Next day we took off.

We spent our anniversary at a freaking lush hotel in Paso Robles. There was a jacuzzi in the room, a gorgeous balcony, 2 computers, and a big rainfall shower. We had sushi for dinner of course (SAKE BOMB!), drank some of the wine we bought, and it was definitely hard to leave the next morning, we were so comfortable.

After that we returned to Long Beach, hung with Zoe and Ben and sold merch at 2 more shows at the college theater. That was a lot less chaotic since we didn't have to sell the 3D glasses - they came with the ticket. Leaving LB was hard, too. we said goodbye to Zoe after breakfast at the potholder, then went for one last walk in the California waves. The beach gives a feeling, an earthly feeling. And then it was go, all the way to Phoenix. Got a hotel room with a legit kitchen for $35, made a dinner with spaghetti and the produce I had leftover, and just chilled out.

Yeah, we're coming home. This won't be the last time we do this. I don't really even like staying in one place anymore. I was born to wander this earth, a vagabond. New sights on new turf, every day till I melt into the beauty and am gone forever. But the music. We must return to share the music.

Plus, I miss my kitten.

Leo Carrillo, Big Sur, San Francisco

We are in San Fran and have been for almost a week. The laser show is coming to San Rafael tomorrow, so we are all going with Dean's bro Dan, their parents, and Nick, his girl Isabella, Jeff, Justine, and a few other. We're getting a hotel in San Rafael for the night so we won't have to drive all the way back to SF (thanks to the 'rents). Yeyeaahhhh
Leo Carrillo was beautiful and the weather was perfect. Actually, today is the first time it's rained this whole trip (and we went hiking in Muir Woods anyway). In Leo, we got a bottle of tequila and played music on the beach all day. Camped for 2 nights there, then 2 nights at Kirk Creek Campground in Big Sur... It was lush and gorgeous, the sound of the surf put us to sleep every night and the cutest little hippie guy was the campground host. Hooked us up with a ton of wood... which was good, because it was chilly. We went on a badass hike in the woods and drank a bit of wine on a beach after that.
We went to a 7 deadly sins party with Nick & co. the night we got to SF. Saw dear sweet Meg Perez, who was visiting USF. The party was a 2 keg and was ridiculously crowded, but we found a few good souls. Next night we met up with some Vikings and played monopoly, then went to a party that was full of Swiss people who liked to talk a lot about how Swiss they were. We went back and attempted to finish Monopoly, finally deciding that Jeff's fat stack of $500s and considerable domination of the board was enough to win him the game. Next day we had a nice jam sesh with Dan (not Dean's brother) at his lil apartment.
After staying at Nick's two nights, we went to Dan's (bro), where we have been ever since. Picked up the 'rents from the airport yesterday and have been eating lavishly under their care. Tonight, margaritas and Mario Kart at the other Dan's.
After this, Yosemite, then back to LA. Our three year anniversary is April 16th....
And now, some pictures:
Vegas



The Terrace, Venice Beach

Leo Carrillo by night



and by day




Los Padres National Forest


Kirk Creek




Hiking Big Sur









And the Prius

Our sunset dinner lulz

Dunes, Arizona, Vegas, and LA

We left Matt and Jacqueline on Saturday morning and drove to Great Sand Dunes Nat'l park along CO160 in southern Colorado. we camped in the park.. the wind picked up in the night and blew our tent around like crazy. Probably would have blown our tent over if we hadn't been weighing it down. (pics to follow)
After that, we drove through CO and got stuck in a HUGE dust storm all the way from Cortez, CO to Kayenta, AZ. Navajo Land is NOT prime real estate. We stayed the night in a motel run by Navajo in Tuba City.
We saw the Grand Canyon the next day, it's so unreal. It all used to be underwater, but as the Rockies rose out of the sea, the land in AZ rose too, and the river (whose flow was estimated to be exponentially stronger than it is today) cut through to the coast, carving out the Grand Canyon on its way as sediment eroded the sandstone and the sides of the canyon collapsed. We would have camped the night there, but it was supposed to get down to 19F, so we drove to Flagstaff, AZ, a hip little town. Had some dank sushi nomnoms.
Drove to Vegas the next day and Dean got his ticket cherry popped on Route 66. Cop was cool and marked his speed as lower, so it's a $100 ticket.
Stayed with Dean's Cousin Lauren in Vegas and saw a couple Casinos. The Wynn and the Encore are incredible. I failed at slots. I'm not much of a gambler. Had a really delicious cocktail, though.
After Vegas, we drove to Long Beach. Hung out at Huntington beach, ate some delicious food with Zoe, and went to a house party in LA. There was a pinata full of condoms and a really diverse crowd. Everyone kept saying I look like Jack Sparrow. I guess dreads aren't very common in LA. Hippies tend to stay away? We met these Brits from this band, Purple Melon, and one of the guys kept touching my hair. Too much tequila that night. Food has been amazing and I don't want to leave, bonfire tonight and then Zoe leaves for Virginia tomorrow and we go to Venice Beach then camp at Leo Carrillo. San Fran by Friday....

Keystone and Boulder

So, we drove to Keystone on Saturday to stay with Erica. Repped really hard in Pong for Austin, but really regretted it when we hit the slopes the next day. It was Dean's first time riding, and we both were feeling the altitude and the night before. We seriously did one (long) run and then went home to sleep for a while. Luckily Erica hooked us up with $45 lift tickets. We went out the next day and had a great time, rested Tuesday and went out for St. Patty's, then I hit the mountain again Wednesday with Erica, Matt, Jacqueline, and Tom. We have definitely gotten better, but our asses are sore. Got to boulder Wednesday night, ate some sushi with Matt and Jax, and tonight, we're hot tubbing, drinking wine, making dinner, then going to Cantina Laredo for Top Shelf Guacamole and 'ritas.

a few pics from Boulder












On Tuesday, we saw watchmen. I highly recommend it.

Texas and Colorado

we are in Littleton, CO right now, staying with cousins. We had a great time in Lubbock with Benny Mo, Cameron, Travis and company, then made it to Canyon City, CO the second night. stayed at an overpriced motel and saw Royal Gorge, the world's highest suspension bridge, which is very touristy but nonetheless spectacular. It's off season, so we got cheaper tickets and there was hardly anyone there.
(click pics for full version)
texas

royal gorge



the 'omg we were here' pic



get it?

cute goat>.<

geese at a park in Littleton








craziest thing was when we got here, to Denver. We wanted to go to this show, Alela Diane and Blitzen Trapper. Found out it was sold out the day before. Checked craigslist and everything for tickets, no luck. We had talked to Alela once before on myspace... so Dean sent her a message asking if she could get us in, much to my embarrassment. No response, so we just went to this little pub in Littleton. I check my phone (which I had left in the car) around 930 and see that, Lo and behold, Alela responded and actually got us on the guest list. She was literally supposed to be going on the moment we got the message... But as fate would have it, we were already on the right street and just followed it all the way to Denver. Saw half her set and talked to the drummer the rest of the night. Great show, though it was packed.
Today we walked around Denver and got coffee. Tried to play music in the park while coming down, which ended in frustration and weariness. Though a little boy with a mohawk and an adorable mom did give a dollar.
Tomorrow, we go to Keystone, and Sunday... we BOARD!

cell phone pic of alela. great shot, i know.

that's all for now. took damn near forever to upload and edit all that. hope you enjoyed and we'll see you next week with another addition to Dean and Laura's Excellent Adventure: The Blog.