San Francisco

The journey from the flowing green vine valleys of Napa to San Francisco was one of tranquil obscenity.
We were spoiled with the blessed beauty of our surroundings and entertained with our own state of meditated relaxation. As we rolled into the steep gradients of San Francisco we surrendered our car outside of Shellys ( my friend from school in Ireland).
We immediately charged into Castro a small Gay division of the city where our metro was located. Being from a small village this was the first time I had ever seen guys displaying intimacy in public. I took it in my stride and without a second glance headed to the underground metro.

The metro was a revelation making urban commuting a relaxing experience. Our carriage was pacified by the stories of ex Mexican prisoners , the drama of college girls, the odd gay with a lazy wrist and old women bringing their cats to the vet. Where else in the world can you get this in such a concentrated area? Our first destination was Pier 39 and Fisherman‘s Wharf. As we debarked we were engulfed with the smells and sounds of the wharf. The hustle and bustle of the buyers sneaking around each other to find the best deals and the sellers exercising there lungs to ensure everybody knew that they had the deal of the century.

As we lazily strolled down the wharf our mouths watered at the sight of the days catch of crabs being turned into chowder, Not to mention the bread which was being rolled and baked in front of our very eyes. With the echo of the sea loins calling in the distance, we gave in to our stomachs and bought two fresh chowder bread bowls and a quantity of shrimp, that could have fed the sea gulls of san fran for days all for under 15 dollars. We headed straight to the view of the bay with our feast. With Alcatraz to my right and the golden gate bridge to my left it’s a lunch I’ll never forget!!!

The evenings events were organized for us by the Irish girls. We had great crack with them at the house exchanging stories from our adventures along with the tales of their exciting summer in San Francisco . In the late hours we hit up Ireland 32, one of the local Irish bars. What a run down memory lane!! In the bar the DJ from Kerry spun the Wolf tones and all of our favorites hits all night. Unfortunately the local lads were drinking their sorrows away as they had just lost the Western division Hurling final that day. They were distraught. Dee the bar maid from Kilkenny energetically served them Guinness and gave them condolences. For me however it was a treat. I even got to meet another old friend from Cork who I stumbled across drinking at the bar. After a belly full of beer the girls decided it was time to go home as they had work in the morning. I was thinking to myself its almost bright outside; I’m glad its you and not me going to work in the morning.

The next morning the girls were up bright and early drinking Barry’s tea and eating toast daubed with Kerry gold butter. I was so impressed.. Only the Irish!! As I shook off a rough head I knew it was time to move on . We gave our appreciation for the most amazing night, and we got on our way!! However a little shopping was called for before we departed the city limits. We drove down Lombard road the windiest road in America past Haight Ashbury, www.lovehaight.org the alternative section of the city where tiny boutiques thrift stores, restaurants and pot stores were common place. Up Coit Tower road where the view
of the city was unchallenged and finally to our destination China town.

The indescribable fresh scent of herbs and dried fish flirted with our senses and the samples from budding traders filled our stomachs. The cries of women tried to draw us in their stores with promises of the best produce on the street. With a purchase of fresh lychee and bubble tea we were ready for food. The thought of noodle soup plagued our minds for attention. We went to a small restaurant with a capacity of less then ten and the restroom in the kitchen. Despite this it the best Vietnamese food I’ve ever tasted. The bright red peppers and tofu rushed through the broth which held an endless amount of noodles and beef. I’ve never had so much sweat seep out of me as I ate the chile and garnishes which surrounded the plate. Mandy laughed and refilled my water glass continuously.

Having satisfied our hunger we decided that some fresh Jasmine tea at the Japanese garden would quench our thirst (www.japenesegardensf.com). This garden is unique as it is the oldest Japanese garden in the United States designed and constructed by Makota Haigiwara in 1894. The garden is extremely vast containing a large collection of monuments and bridges along with a host of native Japanese plants and ponds. Our meditative cup of tea overlooking the secluded peaceful waters of the garden at the tea house was a great way to conclude our San Francisco experience. As the day progressed and our schedule shortened and we know the road was calling. so on we went on the next chapter of our adventure.

NAPA California!

8/13 We headed for Napa but we took our time. We decided to drive down the Avenue of the Giants. We pulled over to have a picnic in the forest and as we wondered around it felt like we were tiny little creatures in a great big world. Being with trees that are over a thousand years old is a humbling experience. The air was moist and smelled like pine. Moss covered every tree branches and clovers and ferns covered the forest floor like a soft carpet. Being there was like being in the Avatar movie. We found an old tree stump that was larger than most dining room tables. We clambered to the top and ate our lunch. We found trees that you can drive through and we found trees that were hollowed out on the inside creating a little room. We arrived in Napa and called it an early night because we knew that the next day was going to be a taxing one.

Yesterday 8/14 was one of the best days I’ve had in my life. The realization that I was in Napa Valley didn't really sink in until we left for our wine tour at 10:30 a.m. We met our bus driver (we don’t want to drink and drive) and we were off. Once we started driving through the winding roads that surrounded the wineries and the vineyards my excitement grew and grew. I love how the scenery in Napa is very bland. The burnt dry grass matches the burnt dry soil and the only bits of color that sweep over the landscape are the dark green grapevines and the silver leaves of olive trees. The topography is so simple yet one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

We learned so much about the science of wine and the science of growing grapes while we were on our tour bus. Our driver Laurence explained how special the Napa and Sonoma valley's are. He also explained the different micro climates that make up the valley. He taught us about the different grape varieties that are grown there, the majority being the Cabernet grape. We traveled up and down the Napa Valley touring wineries. We toured 6 in all (which is nothing considering there are hundreds here).

The first winery we toured was VERY unique (http://www.castellodiamorosa.com/). Castello di Amorosa is a 13^th century 107 room castle. We entered into the dungeon area for our first tasting of the day. I enjoyed this winery because it was so different. Some of the wine was unlike any that I’ve drank before. One of the wines we tried was very sweet and dry but when paired with a dark chocolate the flavor immediately changed into a creamy spice.

The next winery was very unique as well. I really enjoyed the sculptures that surrounded the property. Clos Pegase (http://www.clospegase.com/aboutus.html) was a beautiful property. We spent most of our time here just wondering around admiring the art. We only sampled the summer wine but we weren't as impressed with their wine. We soon moved on. We were hungry so our bus driver took us to an amazing little deli for lunch. We bought our sandwiches and we headed for the next winery.

Our tour driver Laurence made special arrangements with the next winery. We had a private picnic table set up we enjoyed our lunch under a beautiful oak tree. The Dutch Henry Winery was by far my favorite winery of the day. (http://www.dutchhenry.com/) The wine maker came to our table with each bottle for the tasting. After our lunch and private wine tasting the wine maker took us over to the vines to explain the organic fertilization that is used in Napa as well as the pruning techniques that are used to keep the vines healthy. As if that weren't enough special treatment we then got a personal tour into the caves where the barrels of wine are stored. We learned about each part of the laborious task of making wine. Small microscopic changes make HUGE differences in the taste of wine. We learned about the different barrels that are used, the yeast, the nutrients, and the different temperatures that are required to process and preserve wine.

The Dutch Henry winery was such a small personal experience. The Zinfandel, the Cabernet and the people were amazing. We really enjoyed the fact that there was no snobbery, just good good wine. After spending over an hour there we boarded the bus and we were headed for the next winery.

Just down the road from Dutch Henry we arrived at Cuvaison to sample the world renowned Brandlin Cabernet. This wine has been raved about by wine critics (http://www.cuvaison.com/). This winery facility was beautiful, sleek and modern but I found that it wasn't quite as personal as Dutch Henry and the majority of their grapes are purchased from local growers instead of being cared for and grown there on the property. Anyhow, they have refined their craft and I must admit that the $1200 per case Brandlin was the best Cabernet that I've ever had. Our time was up and our heads were getting a little fuzzy and it was time to hop back on board for the next winery!

My second favorite winery from the trip was Laura Zahtila's winery (http://www.zahtilavineyards.com/). She purchased a small winery and she built her tasting room right behind her house. Her wines are award winning and her Chardonnay was spectacular! I personally have never really enjoyed a Chardonnay but I learned that the flavor I didn't enjoy was because of the barrels the wine was fermented in. I now know that I prefer a stainless barrel over the oak when it comes to white wines such as the chardonnay. Laura and her husband served us and their two wonderful pups were running around underfoot. We all felt so welcome and so fortunate to be there. It's so cool to see a woman taking part in a male dominated industry such as wine making. After setting on the porch petting the puppies for a while we all jumped on the bus for our last winery of the day.

Our last winery of the day was quite interesting. Alan and I loved it and hated it at the same time. The story of the winery is quite unique and we even got to catch a glimpse of the owner who was treating some friends to a private tasting. Frank Family Vineyards is owned by Richard Frank who right off hand may not seem like a special guy but he's quite popular in Hollywood. Richard worked for Disney for quite a while and he's also an agent for several big stars including Leonardo DiCaprio. When you walk up to his vineyard there are people everywhere and you must get on a waiting list to go in for a tasting. Once you walk into the tasting room small snapshots cover the walls. Frank stands with Oprah, Marilyn Monroe, Harrison Ford, George Clooney and several others. We had a chance to taste Napa Valley champagne and several of the wines that are supplied to the academy awards. This was the last winery of the day so we didn't have much time before it was time to head back.

Before we headed for our Callistoga mud bath we took a short detour. We decided that it was time for food and we were directed towards a hotel/ restaurant called Auberge du Soleil (http://www.aubergedusoleil.com/). As we listened to our GPS we winded up the Napa Valley roads onto the valley side. There on the hillside was a beautiful restaurant with a huge patio overlooking the vineyards below. As we walked in my excitement grew as I smelled the amazing food that was being prepared. We walked out onto the veranda and my breath was taken away by the amazing view and the beautiful music that was coming from below. We soon learned that Christina Aguilera was married at Auberge and there was in fact a wedding going on at that moment but unfortunately it wasn't anyone famous. We drank beautiful wine while eating duck confit pizza topped with baby arugula. The food was amazing, the view was breath taking and the temperature was perfect as the sun began to set. The orchestra below played songs that we knew like Coldplay's “Yellow” and the Black Eyed Peas “Tonight's Gonna be a Good Night”. I didn't want to leave that moment.

As if the day hadn't been amazing enough we left Augerge du Soleil and headed for Callistoga for a mineral spring mud bath. As we were driving towards Callistoga with our windows down admiring the beauty that surrounded us I couldn't help but feel like the luckiest person alive. I was so happy to be where I was right at that time that it was hard to fight back tears. Everything was so perfect; it was like a dream that I never wanted to wake up from.

So, we heard that a hot spring bath is one of the things that you must do while visiting the Napa valley. Alan and I had such a fun time at the spa. We were like little kids running through the halls in our oversized one size fits all robes. The experience was great. We had our own private room with our mud filled tubs, our hot spring shower and our bubbling hot tub. I've never been so dirty and felt so clean in all my life! We both giggled when we sat in our tubs and started burying ourselves in the super dense peat moss. The mud was amazing, squishy, and super duper hot. The combination of the compression and the heat of the mud along with the ice cold cloths that were placed on our faces were intoxicating. If I wasn't tipsy before the mud bath, and the mineral soak I was afterward. We headed back to our hotel for one of the best nights sleep I'd ever had. The next day (I say day because it wasn't an early morning) we headed down the road for San Fran.

Portland, Oregon

The drive from Seattle to Portland was nice. This was the first time that we really weren't in a big rush. We didn't really know what we were going to do or where we were going to go once we reached Portland which was a new feeling for me. Up till this point I've meticulously planned each step of the way and I decided that I need to just let go and ride the wave. We took highway 30 into Portland and we took our time.

We arrived in Portland around noon and we headed for the city center which is the oldest part of town. We ate at a historical landmark called the Dan and Louis Oyster Bar which started in Portland in 1907 (http://www.danandlouis.com/). The food was amazing and the price was right. We wandered around and soon headed for Voodoo Doughnut for dessert. (http://voodoodoughnut.com/). After standing in line for over half an hour for a voodoo doll and a banana caramel fritter we weren't sure what to do. Our first impression of the city wasn't that great. What we saw of Portland was a huge industrial area and a TON of homeless people. It was dinner time at the mission so we were fighting through crowds of vagrants (not fun). We were getting fed up with the begging and we were preparing to head out of dodge when we spotted the Lan Su Chinese Garden (HTTP://www.portlandchinesegarden.org/). We spent hours wondering around the small garden paths. We were like children stopping to admire each and every bonsai and every flower. We spent time in the tea hut sipping rose tea while gazing out into the lilly pond. We stayed until the garden closed and I noticed as we were leaving that all the stress that my body normally stores in between my shoulder blades had completely melted away. I felt more buoyant and much more at ease. Taking a time out was exactly what we needed.

To our surprise the Portland rush hour traffic wasn't that bad. My dad got us hooked up with an old friend we were in the small town of Tualatin in no time. Our hosts for the evening were amazing. I think this night has been one of Alan's favorites so far. Scott and Lisa treated us like family. Our dinner was great and the boys (Scott and Alan) had a great time being big kids. We even got to do some Jeep off roading! We spent a few hours out by the campfire sharing stories and then I was off to bed to get my beauty rest.

Alan wasn't feeling too hot in the morning (hmm I wonder why) but, I was ready to go exploring. Scott was a great host and he took us to his favorite sushi house for brunch (breakfast for Alan). Sushi train was so much fun! We picked what we thought looked good and we all shared. I enjoy this method of sushi eating simply because you get to try so many different rolls. We had a great time taking turns to grab the plates as they passed by on the train.

At lunch we had a chance to chat about the city of Portland. Scott explained to us that we were just in the wrong part of town. The homeless people flock to the old town area but there are cooler areas such as the Hollywood District, we just didn't know. Scott also explained that there are tons of micro-breweries in Portland. Well, that just brightened our day. Rather than taking the time to hit up each and every one of the micro-breweries we just opted for the micro-brew store where we were able to buy single bottles of whatever sounded good. Needless to say, we loaded up. Maybe we like Portland after all? I think we're both willing to give the city another chance unfortunately we just ran our of time and we had to hit the road. Portland will have to be a vacation for another time.

We are so happy and grateful for our gracious hosts. We both feel like we've been blessed. So far everything has been perfect and the people we've met along the way have been amazing. Thank you Dad (for hooking us up with your friends) and thank you Scott and Lisa for being so darn cool. We said our goodbyes and we headed down the coast for the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park. On our way we stopped by a helicopter company so Alan could say hello. We slowly worked our way down the coast to the Umpqua area. The coastal highway in the southern part of Oregon is so beautiful. We pulled over several times to admire the view. Sharp black rocks randomly jut out of the bright blue ocean and the white tip waves crash onto the cliffs right below the road. The breeze was so strong and the fog sat so low it was like a blanket that covered the tree tops. The air was so crisp and cold with faint pine and salt aromas. We drove down the windy coastal road until it got dark. We found a random little hotel right on the bay and when we woke in the morning all we heard were the seagulls outside chatting to each other. The gloomy weather outside made it hard to get moving. Eventually we found motivation and we hit the coastal route again. This time we were Humboldt bound. As we were driving we would wind around a tight turn and I would look over the edge but there was nothing there. It's scary to know that the road drops off with no guard rail but you cant see it because if the thick fog. By the afternoon the fog had mostly burnt off and we soon arrived in Arcata, Ca.

Seattle..

Alan and I explored Seattle today. The weather was beautiful drizzly and dismal. Last night we ventured out to a nearby pub so this morning was a bit of a late start. When we finally found the motivation to get out and explore this beautiful city it was around lunch time. We headed directly for a tea tasting tour near the market. After our tea education, which was highly enjoyable, we wondered towards old downtown. We opted out of the common Seattle tourist option of going up into the space needle and we decided to head for the tallest building in town. We climbed to over 1000 feet in the air for the most amazing view of the city. Unfortunately the fog had completely consumed Mt. Ranier but what view we were able to glimpse was exquisite.

Here in Seattle it seems as though there is a coffee shop on every corner. I'm not sure if coffee is so popular because the people in this city depend on caffeine due to the lack of sunshine or if coffee companies are trying to give Starbucks a run for their money (Starbucks started in Seattle). Either way we couldn't turn down the urge for a mid-afternoon latte and we stopped for one of the most delectable coffee's I've ever had. We passed through pioneer square and my eye was caught by a very unique retro clothing store. I tried to resist the urge but I was unable to. I unfortunately had a compulsive shopper relapse and I was forced to purchase myself a new outfit while Alan was shopping for a kilt next door. Silly, I know.... After our trip around the old part of town we headed for the market.

When we first started our journey we complained about the walking. Now, we look forward to walking around in new places. We would both rather park the car and walk simply because in most metropolitan areas transportation is much less stressful when you're walking. Our cities weren't designed for the amount of cars that now travel on the roads so usually the cities are a mess.

Anyhow, we walked about a mile and a half back to the market. The constant hustle and bustle of the market is enough to excite anyone. Our senses were overwhelmed. One minute we were watching the locals make cheese and the next minute we were eating dolmades (stuffed grape leaves). A little further into the market we indulged in some amazing curry. Where else but Seattle can you enjoy Afghan, Greek, American, Indian, authentic Chinese and Italian and French all in the same block? We were in foodie heaven. Everywhere we turned people were handing us free samples of fresh fruits, jerkies, and fish. I learned about new fruits and veggies and listened to some live street music. I tried a lychee for the first time. We rummaged through old book stores and we bought imported fresh loose leaf teas and dried fruits and fresh bread. Nothing compares to the Pike Street Market. The sights and sounds and smells of the market are so entertaining and intriguing that being there just makes time fly by. Once our senses were overwhelmed and our bellies were full so we headed back to our hostel for a quick time out. We refreshed with a cup of hot lychee tea.

That evening we walked back to the old area of Seattle and we took Bill Speidels Seattle Underground Tour (http://www.undergroundtour.com/). We had such a great evening. Our tour guide had a great personality. We laughed and we learned so much about Seattle's dirty little secrets like 87% of the city's money was funded by the 2500 prostitutes in 1888 thanks to a lovely pimpess named Madame Lou Graham. (http://www.historylink.org/index.cfmDisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=2762). We also learned about Seattle’s terrible crime and drug problem that was all taking place in the city that remained below Seattle. After our tour we wandered into a really cool bar ate some tater-tots and headed back to the hostel.

I feel like I'm walking down
the street smiling at everyone that I meet simply because I'm so happy at this point in my life. I love all of these new experiences and I'm definite that Alan does as well. This trip has taught us a lot about ourselves and each other. We left Seattle with happy faces and bellies. Seattle was everything we thought it would be. Our hostel was amazingly clean and the unique artwork everywhere was awe-inspiring. (http://www.cityhostelseattle.com/) We had great roommates, a movie theater, a hot tub and a kitchen on every floor. The resident chef Brian was the bomb and everyone we met was super friendly and helpful. This is one place we definitely will return to soon. Next stop, Portland Oregon.

Wyoming, Yellowstone, Montana

So we left the Black Hills of South Dakota and we headed straight for Yellowstone National Park. What we didn't know was that every place within the park is booked out for over a year. We drove and we drove. We both really enjoyed the scenic route. South Dakota is an amazing state. We even stopped off at a helicopter tour company that ended up offering Alan a job! After about 9 hours we decided to stop for fuel at a little town right outside Yellowstone's east entrance. We ended up over paying for a hotel but everything worked out for the best. After we got checked in we walked a couple of blocks down the street to the Cody Nite Rodeo! We made it there just in time for the National Anthem. We drank beer and cheered for the bull riders. Alan said he felt like a real American with his cowboy hat and his beer; I was so proud.

The next morning we woke up bright and early and walked across the street to a little western diner that advertised their $.25 coffee. The place was packed and we ended up getting seated with two people that we didn't know. Luckily none of us are shy and soon the morning conversation got really good. As we ate our eggs one of the boys asked, “do you think life is given or taken”. I was blown away by the fact that such an abstract question such as that came out of the stoner kids mouth. I smiled and contemplated the question for a while. Needless to say the morning was quite interesting.

We left directly from breakfast to hop on a bus for our white water rafting tour. We took a 12 mile river rafting tour down the Wyoming River. A big storm was rolling in overhead which blocked the sun. We were sitting in the very front of the raft so as we cascaded over the rapids we were getting soaked. When the breeze blew down the canon we soon became chilled to the bone. The views from the canon were amazing. To my surprise Wyoming had more of a red rusty desert appearance rather than a huge green mountainy feel. We watched several families of deer grazing as we floated by. We watched the little bird families that had made their homes out of mud flutter by. White water rafting was such a great way to spend the afternoon.

The best part of the entire day was meeting the mother and son that sat next to us on the raft. They were so generous and kind. We were planning on leaving after the trip to drive into Yellowstone. With the storm rolling in and the sun setting we figured that we wouldn't get to see too much of the park. Lisa and Justin were staying in Cody for a summer vacation and they invited us back to their place for the night. Now this was an offer that we couldn't refuse. Although staying an extra night in Cody put us a little behind schedule it was the best plan. We were able to make some new friends and we had a great evening relaxing and eating a nice home cooked meal. We couldn't be more grateful for their hospitality. I never expected to meet such wonderful people on the road.

We had a great night's sleep and we awoke refreshed and ready for Yellowstone. 8/7 The drive into Yellowstone National Park is amazing. As we climbed into the park huge dark clouds covered our car and we were intensely pounded with gumball sized hail for about 10 minutes. Someone turned off the light switch and the clouds disappeared. We watched Old Faithful do her thing. We admired the continental divide and we got and education on geysers, paint pots, and calderas. On our way out of the park we were stopped by a baby grizzly bear and a herd of elk but other than that the sightings of the wild animals was sparse. I was expecting herds of buffalo and bear everywhere. What I didn't realize is that Yellowstone is a HUGE park which is over 3,400 square miles of wilderness and over 1300 miles of trails. If you really want to experience the park and all it has to offer you need to spend time off the roads. Camping in Yellowstone would be a great family vacation. Staying in one of the overpriced lodges or inns would be a HUGE waste of money.

Once we got tired of looking at steam coming out of the ground we started driving for Missoula, Montana. The boys we had met at breakfast in Cody were telling us how cool the town was. We arrived in the early evening, checked in and walked downtown for a beer. Missoula is a quaint little college town that seems like it would be a lot of fun when school is in. Things were kind of quiet for a Sat. night but we enjoyed each others company, good nachos and good locally brewed beer. We had planned on touring a couple of the micro-breweries in town but we forgot that the next day was Sunday. Once we returned to our hostel we met our roommates for the night. Jason had been traveling all day from Portland on his motorcycle to staff a camp there in Missoula and our new German friend (I don’t know his name) who is traveling across the country looking for a job as a biologist. These guys had great energy, we had great conversation and I left the boys to chat while I headed off to bed.

This morning we departed Missoula with our new German friend. As it turns out he was planning on taking a bus to Seattle. We figured that we had plenty of room in the car so we invited him to ride with us. I've taken the bus long distances before and I wouldn't wish that hell upon anyone so I felt obligated to invite our new friend to join us on our journey. Today was a great day of traveling. Alan had a new buddy to chat to while I dozed in and out of sleep. We arrived in Seattle early this afternoon and Alan and I walked down to watch the ships sail out of the sound. Our hostel is amazing and tomorrow we plan on exploring this beautiful sea side city!

South Dakota Black Hills

The Black Hills of South Dakota. We left Nebraska yesterday 8/3 and we drove about 10 hours to reach our destination. We left Fremont in the late afternoon (it's always hard to leave family) and we were blessed with the most amazing sky show I think I’ve ever seen. As we drove across the plains of Nebraska headed west I initially was pissed because we were driving into the setting sun. Once the sun began to fall below the sky line the huge blue and white sky that blanketed our heads turned into the brightest ever changing neon painting. The evolution was almost instant. I became so fixated on the sky that I almost forgot that I was supposed to be driving. My gaze was fixed upon this marvelous transforming art. The bright blue from the east faded into turquoise and creamy whites and where the sun had just slipped away a neon tangerine color shot up from the ground that faded into the brightest pink that was smeared with purple and grey. I wish at that moment that I could have stopped time, pulled over and painted what I witnessed. That experience was like ecstasy for our eyes.



We had no trouble finding our cabin even though we arrived at about 1:30 am. When we awoke this morning to go check out Mt. Rushmore we were astonished by the scenery that surrounded us. The air here is crisp and clean. I find that I'm appreciating every breath that I take into my lungs. The ponderosa pines that surround us have a sweet cream smell that is unlike any other. We actually spent about 20 minutes today smelling the trees (people were looking at us like we were on drugs). The roads twist and turn and just when you think you're in the middle of nowhere out from behind a bend pops a little western themed town. I'm kind of glad that we drove last night because when we stepped out of our cabin this morning the South Dakota scenery was such a nice surprise. The landscape here is so different from Nebraska and really we aren't that far away.


As we were driving I couldn't help but pull over to tour Bear Country U.S.A. Touristy I know but, I love animals and I think it's super cool when they have free reign to wonder and we get to stay in our cars and drive through their habitats. We soon made our way to Mt. Rushmore.

Honestly I thought it was going to be bigger ;) I appreciate the six years of hard work that it took to carve the monument but we were soon ready to move on. We walked a trail around the monument and took off driving to see what else we could find. Wouldn't you know we found a winery! Prairie Berry Winery with FREE wine tastings! We sampled very unique wines. Strawberry rhubarb, pear wine, black currant wine, cranberry wine, sweet plum wine. Yep, we were forced to buy some. We cooked our dinner over our fire outside of our cabin.
Right now I'm setting outside our cabin with the brisk night air biting the backs of my arms while the hot fire warms my little toes.

The motorcycles are already starting to pile up in the small towns, next week is Sturgis (largest bike rally in the country). Every once in a while a gang of bikes will pass by our little camp and I cant help but think about my dad. Tomorrow we'll head off for Yellow Stone National Park where we plan on doing a bit of white water rafting.

NEBRASKA!!!

After a long nights sleep we hit the road for Nebraska. At this point we were a little ahead of schedule so we took our time and we arrived in Fremont, Nebraska in the mid afternoon. We both were just so burnt out from the past two weeks rush up the east coast. If you're wondering why we were in such a huge rush to get up the east coast the answer is my dad.


He was so excited to take Alan to the tractor show and the demolition derby that he almost demanded that we get to Nebraska before the weekend. It’s nice to take a few days to take it easy, hang out with family and chill out. Our first day in Nebraska was laid back We spent time with grama and my cousin Brian. We went and fed Alan the best steak he'd ever eaten and we hung out and drank beer until we all passed out.


The next day was the demolition derby. The Midwest culture is far different than anything I’ve experienced in the rest of the country. I never clearly understood what it meant when people said that the Midwest is the heart of America. Now, I think I have an understanding. People in this part of the country have their own farming lives, they reproduce here and they never go too far.


Honestly it's like stepping back in time or being in a different world. Being at the local county fair drinking beer while laughing at the demolition derby reminded me of some bad 80's movie. People here don't necessarily seem happy but they seem content. Youngsters were running around eating their half cooked hamburgers on white bread buns and the overweight parents pounded down the Budweiser. Although I find it hard to relate to the majority of the people in this part of the country I appreciate them simply because our country depends on these people. If it weren't for them who would plow our fields or take care of our cattle and swine?




So I sucked up my snottiness and I just enjoyed the county fair. The more I drank and the more the guys in the derby crashed the happier I was.


On Sunday we hit the dog track with dad and grama thinking that Alan was going to make us a ton on money with all of his greyhound experience. Unfortunately, none of us won. He kept saying “ if only his grand dad were here we'd be winnin'”. We had a great day even though we just threw our money away. After our nice long relaxing weekend with the family we began to prepare for our next trek.