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I honestly can't remember when I last updated this blog...time has completely eluded me. So here goes with where I think I left off...
Torrey Pines was in fact awesome. After walking long, winding trails and not really knowing where each was leading I eventually found myself back at the beach for a much deserved dip in the ocean to cool off. The glorified ziploc bag I bought for my camera was a lifesaver, I couldn't have cared less about anything else being wet.
The next morning, I was off to my next destination but stopped for lunch in La Jolla. After approaching a girl about my age and asking where I should eat...she guided me to The Burger Shack; holy turkey burger; that meal alone was nearly $20, but it was a lot of food. Challenge accepted! Around 90 minutes later, the last few onion rings kicked my butt...I simply could not take another bit without getting the feeling I was going to puke so I walked out deafeated but satisfied. Needless to say, Andrew thought it was a funniest damned thing to hear I was on a sidewalk bench, unable to even walk back to my car...he had the nerve to continuoslly ask if I was hungry that night. Brothers...
I spent a couple of days in Orange County with a friend and got a little more than I bargained for. Apparently, there seems to be some sort of rivalry with the OC and it's surrounding communities, Long Beach in particular; no one I met seemed too thrilled to learn that was my next destination. They eagerly pointed me towards LA instead (I bypassed LA, too many who really know me told me not to waste any time there). The OC is laid back so it took me a while to figure it all out but I just couldn't get into the whole hipster idea, to me it seems pretentious and fake. Not much more to say except that it was a place to rest and a chance to deal with some family business (sorry, can't post much about that here, not my story to tell). Long Beach was definitely a better fit.
Close enough for a decent hike and right on the coast with people that are super laid back and real. Like typical beach towns, the houses were packed in tight and most were completely different styles from their neighbors but there was a laid back intimacy, I can see this as a potential relocation city.
My hostmade, Emma, made me feel right at home and our similarities really surprised me. From sharing stories about jerks and recent camping trips to primping ourselves up for a night out, I'm sad that I spent only one night at her place. I was invited to an absinthe tasting night in which the host not only ordered 14 bottles of the stuff from Europe but also paired each with a dish he prepped...in a word, DELICIOUS! Good times all around lighting the sugar on fire, getting lucidly drunk, going for some cheap yet amazing fish tacos and then walking across the city to the lighthouse in the middle of night as a group of nearly 30...most of the way anyway, Emma, her sister and I turned in ealier for some sleep.
I was real disappointed when I had to leave but my journey called me further north...though not before some more fun! We kayaked through Naples twice, then headed into Seaside for some gelato and funnel cake on the way back to her place...whoever said you can't have that for lunch was dead wrong! Hahaha!
Once out of the area, I finally got a decent taste of what it's going to be like on the Pacific Coastal Highway (PCH)...GORGEOUS!!! Despite the already long drive to San Luis Obispo (SLO) I had to stop several times just to take in the breath taking beauty. The most fun part of that drive turned out to also be the most dangerous. For whatever reason, my GPS decided to take me through the San Marcos Pass on the way there...holy cow that was fun! You know those road signs advising you what speed to take on certain turns? Okay, normally you can take those 10 mph faster unless your driving a large truck or semi...well these turns were so tight and the grade so steep, the 10 mph sign was right, even for my Civic. I couldn't even dare to take them faster...I would have wound up wrapped around a tree trunk or worse, driving right off the edge of a cliff...ridiculous fun!
I checked into The Establishment, an intentional community of 19 young professionals, students, etc in an old Victorian home in San Luis Obispo...could you ask for a better couch experience? I was Amy from Texas and given a Texas sized greeting. Howdy, how y'all doing? :-D
A few words about Kris, my Establishment host. Sweet as can be and super helpful in a pinch. While staying with her, I still was not able to secure a host for Santa Cruz which was crucial because the drive to Pescadero would have been too much. Michael and I (more about this guy in a minute) both decided that being able to stop in Santa Cruz was best for my trip. So Kris got me in touch with her friend Ali who was more than willing to host me...yeah! I didn't have to stay in a coed hostel room; you'll see why that was best in a bit...
Okay now a bit about Michael. As soon as I had walked into the kitchen for dinner with Kris, he asked if I was the math teacher from Texas. Once that was confirmed and we were properly introduced, he said he would be taking some advanced math courses this summer and listed them off. I think I was the only one in the room who knew what he just said so right then, two things went through my mind: cute nerd, prepare to be flirted with. We talked well into the night despite my exhaustion...and about everything from college to life choices. Nice guy but I'm not looking for anything romantic while on the road even though I don't discount that possibility at this point...and that didn't keep my mind from concocting various stories in my sleep. Every girl appreciates a little attention now and then, and it's nice to know that after two weeks of less than ideal living conditions, I was still seen as desirable. Enough about men, I'm not supposed to be thinking about them on this trip!
I wandered around SLO downtown for a couple of hours the next morning and did the unthinkable ...I went shopping. I know, I know...why drive all this way to go shopping? Two reasons: SLO town residents have great taste and it was dirt cheap. I walked away with 3 tops, 1 dress and 2 necklaces to go with them, all for about $50...too good to pass up. Besides, I decided I needed to be cute before going out the local vineyards for an afternoon of wine tasting. I do believe the girl inside is starting to make an appearance...eh, whatever that meant, I'll figure it out later!
I hit 4 local vineyards and spent far more than at the recent resale shop but I won't get into those details. Let it suffice to say that Heidi will have a hard time keeping her paws off the red loot I sent to her home in a few days. From what I can recall, I shipped home a Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Syrah, Zinfandel, a couple of red blends, and a Malbec...yeah, slightly buzzed on the way back to the Establishment which was buzzing with activity, so I took off to California Pizza Kitchen to do some blogging. I did not accomplish much; the food was really good!
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