Roadtrip Back to Texas

Day One- Saturday
May 16, 2009
Oakland, CA - Monterey, CA

We’re hitting the road after graduation, saying goodbye to EF, and spending the afternoon at Richard’s. I really couldn’t have asked for a better last day in the Bay. While doing one last load of laundry, I spent most of the time outside, talking with Mom, Barb, and Richard. At one point, I fell asleep beneath the sun on the lounge chair for about 20 minutes, before moving inside to the front room couch (Arrow joined me). Saying goodbye to my second family was difficult, but it’s comforting to know that I will be back and seeing them again.

We only drove as far as Monterey (only 2 hours away), with me driving the entire way. The hotel (a Quality Inn) is quaint, with the kitchen separated from the bed area and our own little porch. It’s the first time in years (I can’t remember the last time) that we have stayed in a room not on the first floor, since we’re always traveling with bikes. I guess they missed the memo…

Because it’s Saturday and I have free unlimited minutes, I sat beneath the sun on the patio with a glass of wine in hand, talking to Mitchell. That seems to be the theme of the trip so far: beneath the sunshine. I wouldn’t doubt for a moment that I’ll be incredibly tan by the time I get back to Texas in 10 days. It’s been relaxing thus far (I hope it stays that way).

Day Two- Sunday
May 17, 2009
Monterey, CA - Pismo Beach, CA

Perhaps the best possible goodbye I’ve ever received (just short of being taken to the airport). Mitchell surprised me at the hotel and took me to spend my last night with him in Santa Cruz. I got to meet his mom, who I think is great! We sat up talking for about an hour when we decided to hit the sack for the night.

Spending another night next to Mitchell made me realize several things. Our attempts at dating failed, but we’ve come to realize that we cannot possibly be just friends. I think it’s been inside me for awhile, but I’m just now beginning to admit the feelings of love that are growing for him. He’s my best friend and the man I am beginning to love, rolled into one. We can act as though we are a typical couple, but we also act as best friends to one another. Who could ask for more?

Sleep was short but deep, as it always is with us. It was in the early hours of the morning when we decided we could make the three months apart from one another work. We made the drive back to Monterey, where we packed up the car and said our goodbyes. I’m not worried for these three months at all.

We drove the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH or Hwy 1) from Monterey to Pismo Beach. We stopped several times along the way for pictures – Bigsby Bridge, Piedras Blancas (for the elephant seals!!) and into Cambria for lunch. Following lunch, we stopped at Venteux and Robert Hall vineyards for wine tastings and a tour of the facilities at RHV.

We finished the drive into Pismo, with heavy cloud banks rolling in and the temperature dropping drastically. The hotel is nice (since we always stay here) but the bed is still lonely, even with Mom sleeping next to me (and keeping me awake with her snoring).

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention. During our drive down the PCH, we stopped at Pfeiffer Beach for about 30 minutes. Here, the sand is purple, due to garnet deposits. Mom insisted that we bring a bag of sand back. Thus, there is a bag of purple sand sitting on the floor of my car, behind the driver’s seat.

Day Three- Monday
May 18, 2009
Pismo Beach, CA - Henderson, NV

Today was hell on so many levels and for so many reasons. I drove most of the day which, normally, I don’t have a problem with. Of course, it makes me tired and grumpy (part of the problem).

I exploded at Mom. How much of a bitch she is and how she speaks to me and the rest of the family. How she makes the rest of us feel stupid. I hate she gets angry at other drivers… and she’s not even the one driving! I called her a bitch several times. What I hate most is her reaction-less nature. There was no yelling, no name calling, no threats. Nothing. Not what I expected at all. I gave her the cold shoulder and the silent treatment, going to sleep in the front seat for about an hour.

We stopped at Baker, home to the World’s Largest Thermometer. 134 feet tall, it measures the temperature of the area and is the gateway to Death Valley, which holds the world’s high temperature (134° F).

We crossed into Nevada not long after, at Primm. Extremely tacky. I don’t understand how (or why) anyone would want to live here. It wasn’t a far drive into Vegas from there. The highways here are nice. Clean, spacious, smooth. From here, Las Vegas seems like a normal city – suburbia on the outskirts and the hustle and bustle of life on the inside.

The hotel is BEYOND. Easily the nicest I’ve ever stayed in, on this chain. Beautiful, comfortable, spacious. The hot tub could’ve been hotter, but that’s about all. I’m not complaining. It’s amazing what $90 can get you. I’ll post pictures later, so you can believe me!

Day Four- Tuesday
May 19, 2009
Henderson, NV

A much better day. Woke up from an amazing sleep (alone in bed) and had my first decent breakfast in days. The heat was encompassing – I went without a shirt and wore only a sports bra. We stopped at Lake Mead Nat’l. Park and picked up some postcards, along with a National Parks pass. Went over the Hoover Dam. Wish we could’ve parked and walked over, but at $7 for parking, forget that! I got some pretty nice shots from the car, but it’s still not the same. They would’ve been better, had I been able to get out and take a little bit more time.

Arizona is mostly a desolate wasteland, with a few exceptions. Took a small nap in the car for about an hour. Before that, lunch at Carl’s Jr. and missing my last chance for In-N-Out Burger! It was two exits over from the Carl’s Jr. I can’t believe I missed my chance!

As for the Grand Canyon… Spectacular. Beautiful. Peaceful. Utterly breathtaking. You can’t really put into words and describe what you see when you get your first glimpse at the Canyon. They say pictures are worth a thousand words. Well, I have about 40 of them, just from today. Tomorrow: another Rim hike (maybe) and onto Durango, Colorado. Hopefully, we’ll get to meet up with Bob [Roll] for dinner. I sometimes get the impression he doesn’t really like us. I can’t really tell, but I get that vibe on occasion.

Day Five- Wednesday
May 20, 2009
Grand Canyon, AZ - Durango, CO

Mom woke me up at 6.10ish, to scrub her back and to go hiking the Rim for more photos. She says I can sleep in the car for the first leg of the drive to Durango (does she realize how uncomfortable it is to sleep like that?!) and I’ll drive the second part. I think I can make that work. [6.30am]

Now I’m really glad she woke my ass up. Sure, we were cutting it in a bit close in getting back to the room and packing up and checking out. But the 6.45am hike and views of the canyon were spectacular! It’s going to take me quite some time to go through all the photos. I’m particularly glad that I found the panoramic option on my camera – certainly the best shots so far!

There were so many languages at the Canyon, especially at the Watchtower. My head was spinning, trying to pick out various words here and there, particularly with the French. I’m in the process (somewhat) of filling Mom in with her French, for when she goes to France this summer with Dad. She’s being rather stubborn about it. I really wish there was someone I could practice with. I don’t want to lose everything I’ve learned in the past year!

The rest of the drive was pretty smooth. Mom drove the entire way, while I slept on and off. She woke me up for the last time while we were going through the drive-thru at Burger King in Kayenta. From there, we went to Four Corners Monument. Completely worth the $6 spent for admission. Seriously, there’s no other place in the country where you can be in four states at once, or to switch from one state to another immediately. Honestly, I found the visit and experience to be somber, when you consider the history of the land and the struggle these people have endured for centuries, merely for a place to call their own.

We arrived in Durango, checked into the hotel (again, sweet place with my own bed) and met Bob for dinner. Good Mexican food, but I didn’t expect to have that until I got back into San Antonio. Great conversation – that man is a comedian and a genius (or perhaps… a comedic genius?) in his own right! We followed him back to his home to check out his wine cellar. It’s situated in a corner of his garage and is not an ACTUAL cellar, but my GOD. The selection was thoroughly impressive and the other stuff in his garage is just so goddamn cool! A sleek red Ducati, multiple sets of skis, beautiful, top of the line bikes. What a lucky bastard (but he comes by it honestly)…

Now, I’m back in the room, waiting for laundry to finish up and getting ready to Skype with someone (Janice? Mitchell? Ana?). It’s been a long day and I’m driving to Valley View the entire way (only four hours). Still, I should consider getting more sleep tonight, than I have been in the past few days.

Day Six- Thursday
May 21, 2009
Durango, CO - Villa Grove, CO

So much for going to bed early (2.30am-ish). But, I’m up and moving after a deep sleep. However, I really should stop reading and responding to text messages when I’m sleeping…). It’s on to Valley View today, once Mom decides to stop reading Cycling News on my computer and help me take stuff downstairs to the car. I’m driving the entire way (4 hours, or so), but it’s the first time in 2 days that I’ve driven. I think it’ll be a relief, having some sort of power in my hands.

We stopped at Albertson’s, before leaving Durango, for groceries for V.V. Mom’s incessant questions concerning food preferences drove me SO far up the wall, I left and had a cigarette. Couldn’t spare change for a vagabond, but I could spare a cigarette. So I did. Called Jake in the process – he always knows what to say. I opted to call him instead of Mitchell for a series of reasons. 1) He was in class; 2) Didn’t want to bother him; 3) hadn’t talked to Jake in a long time and; 4) he knows my qualms with Mom better than anyone else. His advice to drink some tea and to stop stressing so much worked (as it always does).

Back on the road and it was smooth sailing (minus the general weather forecast). It also helped that Mom was reading her book (meaning she zoned completely), so I could listen to my music. Speaking of which, music selection for the drive worked perfectly and fit to each situation exactly. Soundtracks to Juno, Once, and Garden State. Rain playlist fit nicely, also. The climb to the summit of Wolf Creek was painful, but Mom made it easier by explaining downshifting, etc. on my car. I was certainly grateful for that.

We made it to Valley View without any major issues. The rain will be here all weekend and its cold. Unfortunately, all my weather appropriate clothes are either at home or sitting at the bottom of my bags, in the back of the car. No matter. Collectively, I will be fine, but for the few minute commutes to the various pools and springs.

And here is where I end, until I return to the road. Until then, the tone and voice of my writing will be different, because it is an entirely different place and experience. It is in a completely different realm from reality.