7 States, 2 Provinces and 2,321 Miles

“Road trippin’ with my two favorite allies, fully loaded, we’ve got snacks and supplies…” (Sing in the appropriate Red Hot Chili Peppers tune)  No doubt everyone reading this can relate to the lyrics, and remembers a road trip of epically fun proportions…

Starting out on this journey I wasn’t so sure…I was about to cover nearly 2,500 miles in a week, to attend a completely unexpected and tragic Celebration of Life.  Not only this, I was about to do so with my parents and backseat partner Charlie, a 63 lb. dog.

Charlie & I 

We don’t always choose our travel situations or route.  As is the case here, sometimes the most negatively purposed, unforeseen trips yield incredible memories we will cherish forever.

Leaving my parent’s condo in a lush Palm Desert golf community, we were quickly surrounded by the Mojave Desert and entering Joshua Tree National Park.  What a spectacular sight with rugged mountains resembling stacked boulders rising hundreds of feet into the air.  These interesting geologic displays were created over 100 million years ago from the cooling of magma under the earth’s surface.  Groundwater erosion is responsible for the unique structures you can see against the clear blue sky today.  A rock climbers paradise, Joshua Tree provides habitat for 712 higher plant species, 40 reptile species, 41 mammal species, and 240 bird species.

Joshua Tree National Park

After Joshua Tree the Mojave went on for miles, as we drove through southeastern California spotting a red fox, a couple rattlers slithering across the highway, and a road runner – mbeep mbeep!  Passing through the corner of Arizona and then into Nevada, stunning red and copper plateau mountains surfaced.  It wasn’t long before the vehicle was driving itself along the flat, straight stretches of Utah into Salt Lake City for the night.

Palm Desert to Salt Lake City = 713 miles/1,147 km.

Up bright and early with a dog staring us awake, on the road again it was.  Rolling along, surrounded almost 360 degrees by magnificent mountains we were soon crossing into Idaho, and then Montana.  Charlie committed a new phrase to his repertoire of doggy data, ‘rest stop’.  He was motivated to learn this as it meant he could play in the snow patches, tire himself out, then cuddle up to me with muddy paws for the next leg of the journey.  Night fell and we hit the hay in Great Falls, Montana. 

Salt Lake City to Great Falls = 571 miles/919 km.

As the sun rose, my mom and I saluted to the northeast and the Ross Family Ranch (my great, great grandfather founded the ranch in 1886 in Chinook, Montana).  As its calving season, we reckoned the ranch folk would be wide awake and hard at work.  Down yonder a ways, Charlie, an American Dog of Australian decent, was waived through the border into Canada at Sweetgrass, along with his handlers.  From here it was all down hill to Calgary, Alberta, the final destination for now. 

Great Falls to Calgary = 324 miles/ 521 km.

Spending 4 days in Calgary came with mixed emotions.  The chance to see my aunties and my cousins, and to share precious memories was the start to a tough healing process after the loss of my beloved Uncle Tim.  A man full of love and light, and inspiration to an uncountable number, my Uncle Tim was one of a kind.  May your soul rest in peace.

Cousins - Peter, Blair, Heather & Parker

Charlie was also thrilled to meet his dog cousins, Rio and Enzo.  Two equally mischievous pups, all three were perfect playmates.  Tearing Charlie away, with a few new tricks in his inventory, we hit the road again amid a snow storm moving in and even gloomier emotions.  We wound our way through Crows Nest Pass, and said goodbye to the homeland of British Columbia as we headed back south to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Calgary to Coeur d’Alene = 401 miles/645 km.

Coeur d’Alene is a charming little town, and was a chance for my parents to reminisce on the days of their youth and their first date over 38 years ago!  A day in Idaho and a tour of Gonzaga University in Spokane completed the trip down memory lane, and then finally it was across Washington State back to Seattle. I think we were all ready to be home, except possibly Charlie, who is only granted bed privileges in hotels.

Charlie & Rio

Coeur d’Alene to Seattle = 312 miles/502 km.

It was a long haul filled with dog kisses and parental opinions, but it was one of the most special road trips I have ever taken.  I wouldn’t call it epically fun, but I will cherish this time with my family.  We have all learned in the most unfortunate of circumstance, that everything can change in a split second as you could never imagine.  Tell those you love, that you love them and be kind to everyone around you.  You never know how much this could mean.  Namaste. 

An Unquenchable Thirst for Coachella

Artists over time and across all genres have captured their small vile of the ‘Cali Magic’ and shared its powers with the world.  Amidst a breeding ground of musical innovation and exploration Coachella has found a home - the perfect setting for an artistic extravaganza of musical and human expression.

2011 marked my friend Alex and my 3^rd annual Birthday Coachella desert excursion – the perfect culmination of raw heat, sweat and passion, what could better celebrate our Aries existences year over year?

Coachella 2011

In 2009 we just showed up, we were grossly underprepared with no idea what we were in for – but holy bananas was it fun.  We drove up at around noon on the first day and got FREE tickets from a sponsor on-site (shout out to State Farm).  We went on to experience M.I.A, Thievery Corporation, Michael Franti & Spearhead…an endless list of inspirational and awe inspiring performances.  

From the first taste we wanted more…

In 2010 we came armed with a little more savvy and encountered a landslide of incredible memories at performances like LCD Soundsystem, MGMT, Vampire Weekend, Jay-Z, Yessayer, Passion Pit, Tiesto, Gorillaz, Bassnectar and Z-Trip. 

After the second taste we were hooked…

For 2011 we knew we were going and shelled out some serious dough the minute ticket sales opened.  The line-up (including the likes of Erykah Badu, Lauren Hill, Kings of Leon, Nas & Damien Marley, the Chemical Brothers, Warpaint, Cut Copy, the Strokes, Tokimonsta, Sleigh Bells, Arcade Fire, Chromeo, Magnetic Man and Kanye West) was much anticipated, yet largely irrelevant to stoking our overall anticipation.

Rye Rye Performing

  

We’ve learned over the years that Coachella is so much more than each artist; it is the summation of all parts, both tangible and intangible, that is so special.  It’s an investment in memories, not seeing one or two favorite bands.  In fact the crown jewels of the weekend always turn out to be the unexpected.  The thing is, there will always be a killer set you miss and one of your favorite artists will inevitably encounter A/V issues on stage.  However there will also be the insane new DJ you dance to like a crazy person for an hour, and the sweet new friends you made after everyone you arrived with was lost to the seductive pulse emanating from somewhere else in the venue.   

Before the 2011 festival installment was over I caught the phrase “next year let’s ___” being thrown around.  Coachella is a craving.  It infatuates its prey with artistic stimuli that arouses every sense.  It drives an unquenchable thirst for the creativity and enthusiasm it exudes.  Coachella, much like its birth place of California, has a unique draw, an undisputed magnetism that from my experience can’t quite be explained and shatters expectations.

Erykah Badu Kills It!

At this point, after three glorious tastes, it’s in our blood…as self proclaimed addicts here’s a few words of wisdom to ride the Coachella high, enjoy!      

1.) Camp. Better yet, camp with a random.  The spirit of Coachella continues 24 hours a day, why stress about driving away when there is so much left to experience.  Roller Skating, Farmers Markets, Art Tents, Human Powered Carnival-esc Rides…the list goes on.  This year we didn’t have a car so we hooked up with a dude who didn’t have a camping pass – win/win – Lewis was the perfect addition to our weekend.  He brought a fresh spirit to our group, along with lots of gear and fuel to keep us kickin’ all weekend long.

2.) Bring a mister & find the Heineken Igloo.  It’s hot.  Actually, that’s the most dramatically understated truth I have ever written, it’s swelteringly, deliriously hot and there is NO escape.  Picture waking up at 6 am in a puddle of sweat, I don’t exaggerate.  Bring a spray bottle filled with water and you will be the most popular person in a 50 ft. radius.  When a misting will just no longer suffice, head to the Heineken Igloo and stick your head in the arctic air blower.  You will never be so thankful for corporate sponsorship!     

3.) Re-coup by a Pool.  Everyone, no matter how hard you pride yourself on partying, needs a few days of recovery time after Coachella.  If you don’t, you did something wrong.       

Cruisin’ Cali Style

California’s culture is a unique essence of cool, an allure of effortlessness; to the very core it’s chill.  Arriving in Hermosa Beach, I was struck with this culture full force, and it couldn’t have been more welcomed.

Our hostel, directly across from the roaring surf, opened up onto a lovely promenade with cantinas, quaint little shops and antique stores.  Within 10 minutes of dropping our bags we were sipping margaritas on a patio, people watching and dude scoping.  We left with pretty intense tan lines (selective writing to forget the sunburns they truthfully were) and surprisingly a much less severe bill…thanks to happy hour, or happy three hours in our case!  From here we transitioned to the beach for sunset.  It was picture perfect, surfers wrapping up their sessions, beach volleyball games called, and fishermen packing up their daily catch off the pier.

Hermosa Beach at Sunset

Day two saw an epic bike ride from Hermosa to Santa Monica along the ocean side bike trail. Cruisin’ along, we stopped for lunch in Manhattan Beach, almost lost our wallet in El Segundo (gotta get it, got got to it) and then explored around Marina del Rey, before settling in Venice Beach.  Always a treat, with off-beat individuals and jaw dropping antics, Venice didn’t disappoint.  After soaking in the scene and a visit to my favorite jewelry vendor, (an incredible man, if you ever go to Venice ask me about him), it was on to the Santa Monica Pier for a Ferris Wheel Ride.  Round and round, the perfect opportunity to see for miles…those 15 miles we rode and the 15 more we were going to need to cover to get back!

Biking from Hermosa to Santa Monica

Evenings in Hermosa Beach were also full of life.  The vibrations of live bands spilled from many beach bars and drew out locals and visitors of all ages.  Dancing with pilots, learning about the medical marijuana situation, and being regaled with tales of the LBC and Sublime Bradley’s early days; it was never dull. 

Hermosa definitely lived up to the pictorial way of life and Cali vibe.  Stay there, not Redondo; and a word of advice there are soothing aloe plants down the beach (as found by our rad Australian roomy)!

Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel