Blakely Island

If I were to pick a favorite place in the world this would probably be it. Add to that a guy I hadn't seen in a month? Well, that's just about heaven. Hiking, bonfires, fresh crab, and boat trips. I even read a whole book (not of the legal variety!) over the weekend.

If I had one complaint, which, really, I shouldn't complain, it would just be that it was too short. I can't wait to get back there.

Oh, and Dan swore into the Washington Bar! Operation Seattle-sometime-in-the-future has commenced!

Home is wherever I'm with you

We drove into Livermore yesterday. It's bittersweet. It signifies the end of something. The end of what I'm not sure. The beginning of our marriage? It doesn't really feel like that's over. It's still so new to us in our third year. 

It's also the beginning of something else, though. I'm still hearing back from law schools and Dan is applying for jobs. Things will shake out and we'll get back into a routine. 

We are really blessed to have parents who let us crash their houses. We're currently staying with mine and it is great to be near family again. 

I already miss my friends in Wilmington. I miss the little community and life Dan and I created over there. 

Change is good, though. People adapt. We are resilient creatures. 

CA

We made it!

We woke up early yesterday to watch the sunrise over the Grand Canyon; it was magnificent.

Then we packed up our contraband cats (they weren't supposed to be in the cabin) and started the eight hour drive to Irvine, CA.

Dan's cousin Sam and his girlfriend Gianna live there. It was so fun to stay the night with them as I haven't seen them in a couple years! Plus, we had Indian food. Win.

Did you see I had In-n-Out? Oh yes. WITH a neapolitan milkshake. Good to the last drop.

So, in conclusion, yesterday we drove and I ate food. Scintillating, no?

There is no Arizona

Does anyone else remember Jamie O'neal? I've been singing that song in my head ever since we passed the border. Ah, country music. It's so fitting in this part of the US.

We hit up four corners yesterday. I WAS IN FOUR STATES AT ONCE. I chatted with a native woman who was selling some trinkets. She was really nice and I purchased a rock that she had painted. 

Immediately after we turned out of the monument I was like, wait, I just bought a rock. Whatever, it had cool drawings on it.

Then, THEN, we drove to the Grand Canyon. I had never been.

It was incredible. There are no words to describe how beautiful it was. I couldn't stop taking pictures and none of them do it justice.

We stayed in a little cabin on the south rin. We could see the canyon from our window (along with the construction materials that were all around)! It was so cool.

We walked straight from our cabin to a trail and walked a bit of the rim. We had dinner at the lodge restaurant and then hung out at the cocktail lounge and listened to a duo while we drank some beer.

It was such a good day!

Now we're heading into California and visiting some family in So Cal before we head up to the bay.

California, here we come right back where we started from.

End of County Maintenance

We spent yesterday morning exploring a bit of historic Santa Fe. We got to tour the cathedral basilica and take in the miraculous spiral staircase.

We headed over to the Georgia O'Keeffe museum - they had an exhibit of photographs taken by Annie Liebovitz of American landmarks and the belongings and homes of famous Americans like Lincoln. It was stunning. She is talented.

Then we headed over to Chaco Canyon. Navajo ruins are out there - almost a full city! - what they didn't tell us was that the last 12 MILES were on an unpaved, rough dirt road. No problem for a four-wheeler. HUGE ISSUES for Ford Ranger towing a Chevy Cavalier.

Just a little heads up, Chaco. That's all we needed. You know, just a "Only accessed by dirt road," or "4-wheel drive advised," or "Heavy Vibrations might cause you car door to fall off."

So, just a tip, when you see a sign that says "End of County Maintenance" you might be better off turning around.

The ruins were awesome, though, and the views were breathtaking.

Next stop: Arizona! Woot!

If I found you would you let me come and stay

We saw a lot yesterday: white sands, petroglyphs, and the very large array (Contact, anyone?).

We're into the short hops from place to place now which is great. No more umpteen hour days.

Still reeling from those long hauls though, so we spent some time in the hotel hot tub last night. And then we crashed. Seriously, nine o'clock. Old folks over here.

We're touring Santa Fe a bit this morning Christian Bale, Newsies; I'm just never gonna stop singing that song as long as we're in the county limits. Maybe I'll do a little cowboy lasso dance in an alley somewhere, too. Who knows!