Road Trip

My road trip came to a conclusion on Monday night, where I got back just in time to stop by a Memorial Day BBQ that Jenny's co-resident hosted.

Two days driving through the Redwoods was pretty spectacular. Sunday, the other Cynthia threw a small dinner party in honor of the fact that I was in town, and we looked through her boudoir photos - basically glamour shots for adults. Stephanie and I were reduced to 12 year old boys. But, it did make me consider getting it done too. After all, when you're 80, and you pull out these scantily-clad pictures of you posing sexily for the camera... that's got to be a hoot. 

My cousin, who I met up with in Sacramento for a 3-hour brunch, asked if driving by myself was boring. No, I responded. It gives me time to think. You aren't obligated to answer emails, phone calls, texts. After all, getting to your destination alive is much more important. Or so we should hope.

Memorial Day traffic was at its ragiest though. So much traffic. It took a long time to get out of the SF vicinity, and the rest stops and gas stations on the way down were chock full of families with the need to relinquish liquids. I waited 20 minutes in 100 degree temperature to use a bathroom outside a gas station. This has never happened before. Note to self: Avoid roadtripping long weekends.

Otherwise, it was a relatively painless drive down. Taking four days to drive from Seattle is definitely a good amount of time - just enough so that you can take your time a bit, make some stops, see the scenery. We often forget that Sacramento is really in the middle of California, and Northern California is covered with forest and very big trees. And some lagoons. Highly recommend it. And don't forget to stop by Enchanted Forest, the weird theme part in Oregon.

Roadtripping: Portland to Salem

ICA is in Seattle this year. Naturally, I decided to road trip up and down. Chi drove up with me, and I'm driving back down by myself, taking in sites, and making random stops. It has been really fun. Oh yea, I had also lugged a payphone that was part of the Leimert Phone Project up to Seattle for Francois and Andrew.
The LA to Seattle roadtrip I had made once before, and I remember it being very beautiful. My memory did not disappoint me. We even re-found the weird mosaic dragon just south of the CA/Oregon border, and took in Mt. Shasta looking all pretty in the windshield.

I also somehow forgot that it's Memorial Day weekend. Which means that traffic from Seattle to Portland was HORRIBLE. But, seeing Lauren and Alexei totally made up for it and exceeded! And we met Alexei's friend, Erin, who's an aquatic scientist. We played shuffleboard, drank, had chili cheese tater tots. Thai food. Then home to play Origins (a game where you have to guess the origin of different sayings).

Then, this morning, I left Portland rather early, because on the way up, we passed this theme park called the Enchanted Forest, and given my recent obsession with Once Upon a Time, I just had to stop by.

The Enchanted Forest

(this is my yelp review)

Roadtripping means you find little gems like this super random, vaguely creepy, and totally charming little family-run theme park.I don't know why it's being called the PNW's Disneyland. This place is so different than Disneyland. Sure, there are similarities, but...it feels just.....creepier somehow.

Entrance fee is $10.75, which is totally worth it even if you don't go on any rides. You follow a trail (Which I like, so I didn't have to make a decision on what to see first), and can partake in the various structures (Indian caves, Pinocchio's house, mazes, many others...I really wanted to try crawling through the rabbit hole, but was afraid I would get, uh, stuck) which takes you all around the park, and pops you back at the entrance.

If you want to do rides, there are tickets. Each ticket is 95 cents. Rides take 2-4 tickets. Or you can get a rides pass for $25 more. I didn't think this was worth it.

I only went on two "rides" -- the Haunted House, and the Challenge of Mondor, as suggested by another yelp reviewer. The Haunted House isn't a ride - you just walk through. As I walked up to the entrance, there was a mother with two young children with her. Good, I thought. I wasn't going to be alone. But after they took our tickets, and the kids took two steps into the house, they started crying, so they just turned and left! Leaving me alone. Man. That was not cool. Yes, I got scared. Yes, I totally screamed like a girl at times. Alone. Heart pounding, palms sweaty. Afraid that someone -- like, a live someone, was going to jump out at me at any moment. It was pretty awesome.

The Challenge of Mondor is really charming. That is actually a ride, and they give you a laser gun to shoot at things.


And I got a hotdog ($2.35), a tea ($1.95)  and refunded my unused tickets to get some souvenirs. All in all, I spent less than $25, and about an hour of my time, this morning. (yea, it doesn't take all day - a perfect short detour for a roadtrip).

Grant's Pass/Redwoods

There is an amazing little place called Infuzed Xpress in Grants Pass. They have healthy stuff! I picked up some food, sat outside and scarfed it down, and set out on a very windy road between Grants Pass and Eureka (where I am currently writing this from). This path, incidentally, takes one right through Redwoods National Park. Beautiful. Took a break at the foot of giants.

Passed through Humboldt too, and made a quick trip around Humboldt University. Humboldt County has LAGOONS. I wish I knew what to do with lagoons other than take pictures of them, but they were very pretty. And, I think they are freshwater lagoons. Crazy. Who knew there were both lagoons and giant redwoods so close to the coast.

I'm bumming it up in Eureka now. In a sketchy hotel. Econo Lodge. But, I will say, they have free wifi, and SHAMPOO (something Motel 6 didn't provide). Hah. Good to know in the future.