Berkeley, Ca
Day 15
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Did you know there is a full-size T-Rex skeleton at the University? 😶 Any plans I had changed the moment I heard this. I grabbed some lunch with a dear friend, headed over to UC Berkeley, and marveled for a few hours at the Museum of Paleontology. Later, I partook in some food and drinks, met up with my friend’s son, and eventually found myself back at the Pub.
Check-Ins
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 12:56pm
Holy ramen! Perhaps the BEST ramen I’ve ever slurped. Kelly, thanks for housing me and introducing me to this delight.
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 2:48pm
Ahhh! Dinos attack!
FUN FACT: The Museum of Paleontology is the primary locality for storing fossils collected statewide. Unfortunately, they haven’t collected any Dino DNA. Yet.
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 2:55pm
This beauty was kind enough to sit still as I drew her portrait.
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 4:56pm
FUN FACT: This is a replica of the infamous “Big Mike” and is one of the best specimens found to date at 90% complete. The actual “Big Mike” is hanging around the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History terrorizing and fascinating small children in Washington DC.
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 5:10pm
Popped in to meet Nick!
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 5:20pm
Stayed for the cocktails and pizza!
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 6:30pm
Had a perfect old fashioned while admiring an amazingly designed menu by the incomparable
Dave Stolte.
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 9:48pm
A final visit. I have lots of friends here. I have a strong suspicion I’ll return one day.
Check-Ins
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 12:56pm
Holy ramen! Perhaps the BEST ramen I’ve ever slurped. Kelly, thanks for housing me and introducing me to this delight.
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 2:48pm
Ahhh! Dinos attack!
FUN FACT: The Museum of Paleontology is the primary locality for storing fossils collected statewide. Unfortunately, they haven’t collected any Dino DNA. Yet.
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 2:55pm
This beauty was kind enough to sit still as I drew her portrait.
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 4:56pm
FUN FACT: This is a replica of the infamous “Big Mike” and is one of the best specimens found to date at 90% complete. The actual “Big Mike” is hanging around the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History terrorizing and fascinating small children in Washington DC.
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 5:10pm
Popped in to meet Nick!
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 5:20pm
Stayed for the cocktails and pizza!
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 6:30pm
Had a perfect old fashioned while admiring an amazingly designed menu by the incomparable
Dave Stolte.
Day 15 – June 6, 2018 ∙ 9:48pm
A final visit. I have lots of friends here. I have a strong suspicion I’ll return one day.
San Francisco, Ca
Day 16
Thursday, June 7, 2018
This was my final day in the Bay area and my plan was to storm the City and take in its collections of art and science! However, I could not doddle, as I also had a long drive ahead of me blowing through the likes of Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and Anderson Valley to get to my next host’s home by the sea.
Check-Ins
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 1:01pm
Must gain food powers before exploring museums!
FUN FACT: Thai culture treats eating alone as a bad luck gesture. Well, crap.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 1:41pm
FUN FACT: The Steinhart Aquarium is one of the most biologically diverse and interactive aquariums on Earth. Home to nearly 40,000 live animals, representing more than 900 unique species! They are also very adamant about patrons not joining them.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 2:00pm
🤯 To say the Morrison Planetarium was mind-blowing is to insult exploding minds everywhere. Holy crapola, this was fantastic! A super-highlight of my trip thus far! The video projected on the humongous 75-foot dome transported me to our ocean depths, faraway galaxies, and made me feel very small and insignificant. It was great! If you come visit, do not miss this!
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 3:34pm
Claude is an albino alligator. He doesn’t move much.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 2:34pm
😮 Osher Rainforest 90-foot-diameter glass dome is not to be confused with Rainforest Café. More than 1,600 live animals reside inside, including 250 free-flying birds and butterflies, and close to 100 exotic reptiles and amphibians. Oh, not to mention the 100,000-gallon Amazonian aquarium you walk underneath. As well as hundreds of tropical floras. No purple sticky punch though.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 3:40pm
You can't have a science museum without a dinosaur skeleton, right?
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 4:29pm
Auguste Rodin. “The Thinker” ca. 1881, cast ca. 1904. Bronze cast.
FUN FACT: Both “The Thinker” & “The Kiss” were first in Rodin’s portal sculpture “The Gates of Hell” that depicts a scene from Dante’s Inferno. The Thinker was originally meant to be Dante in front of the Gates of Hell, pondering his great poem. Thus, the sculpture was named “The Poet” before being renamed.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 4:37pm
Coffin and Mummy of Irethorrou. ca. 500. Egypt
FUN FACT: Irethorrou was a wardrobe-priest of Min who specialized in funerary rituals and who once briefly battled Brendan Fraser.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 4:42pm
Unknown. ca. 500. Egypt.
FUN FACT: Dean forgot to take notes, so he has no idea what this is. But it looks neat.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 4:44pm
Scarab. ca. 500. Egypt.
FUN FACT: Scarabs are representations of the dung beetle which roll shit into balls larger than themselves.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 4:50pm
Hawk-Headed Lion. ca 100 BC. Egypt, Basalt.
FUN FACT: A hawk-headed sphinx, also called a gryphon, also called a hieracosphinx, is often shown as a representation of the king treading on his enemies. They are also a large, magical beasts with about 60-hit points.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:00pm
Auguste Rodin. “Bust of Victor Hugo” ca 1917. Marble.
FUN FACT: Conceived on a mountainside 3,000-feet above sea level, Victor was a French poet, novelist, and womanizer who wrote in the nude and penned the novels Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:02pm
Auguste Rodin. “The Kiss” ca 1884, cast unknown. Bronze cast.
FUN FACT: The Kiss depicts a noblewoman who falls in love with her husband’s younger brother. The couple are discovered and killed by her husband. The lovers' lips do not actually touch in the sculpture, suggesting that they were interrupted and met their demise before actually kissing. You’re welcome. 😙
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:08pm
Framing up Sir Joshua Reynolds’ “Anne, Viscountess Townsend.” 1773.
FUN FACT: During the 1760s, a portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds became something of a status symbol among England’s elite. Wealthy women, in particular, competed to commission society’s most admired painter.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:11pm
John Anster Fitzgerald. “Fairies in a Bird's Nest” ca. 1860. Oil on canvas.
FUN FACT: The frame of this fun and disturbing painting was made by the artist and is constructed out of twigs painted gold.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:16pm
Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux. “Le Chinois” ca 1872, cast unknown. Bronze.
FUN FACT: This is one of Carpeaux’s most celebrated sculptures. He also used it as part of his Fontaine de l'Observatoire in Paris representing ‘Asia’ along with four other full sculptures of women representing ‘Africa’, ‘America’, & ‘Europe’ holding a celestial sphere over their heads.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:14pm
Claude Monet. “Water Lilies” ca. 1914–1917. Oil on canvas.
FUN FACT: Monet painted approximately 250 oil paintings of water lilies. 😐 They were the main focus of his artistic production during the last THIRTY years of his life. This guy really, really liked his flower garden.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:30pm
George Segal. “The Holocaust” 1984. Bronze painted white.
FUN FACT: The memorial has been vandalized with swastikas and the use of splashes of red paint many times. Segal does not mind. He views these acts as an important reminder that prejudice is still rampant in our country, and antisemitism didn't end with the war. 😟
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:38pm
I'll be driving over this in the next hour. To everyone that helped make my stay here utterly amazing, thanks doesn't seem enough. I love you all. I'll see some of you soon. The playa awaits. For now. Onward north.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 7:46pm
It's world famous! Had to stop. So, right before finding this place, I stopped to get gas and what do I happen upon? Bear Republic Brewery! That closed at 5pm. 😐
Check-Ins
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 1:01pm
Must gain food powers before exploring museums!
FUN FACT: Thai culture treats eating alone as a bad luck gesture. Well, crap.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 1:41pm
FUN FACT: The Steinhart Aquarium is one of the most biologically diverse and interactive aquariums on Earth. Home to nearly 40,000 live animals, representing more than 900 unique species! They are also very adamant about patrons not joining them.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 2:00pm
🤯 To say the Morrison Planetarium was mind-blowing is to insult exploding minds everywhere. Holy crapola, this was fantastic! A super-highlight of my trip thus far! The video projected on the humongous 75-foot dome transported me to our ocean depths, faraway galaxies, and made me feel very small and insignificant. It was great! If you come visit, do not miss this!
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 3:34pm
Claude is an albino alligator. He doesn’t move much.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 2:34pm
😮 Osher Rainforest 90-foot-diameter glass dome is not to be confused with Rainforest Café. More than 1,600 live animals reside inside, including 250 free-flying birds and butterflies, and close to 100 exotic reptiles and amphibians. Oh, not to mention the 100,000-gallon Amazonian aquarium you walk underneath. As well as hundreds of tropical floras. No purple sticky punch though.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 3:40pm
You can't have a science museum without a dinosaur skeleton, right?
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 4:29pm
Auguste Rodin. “The Thinker” ca. 1881, cast ca. 1904. Bronze cast.
FUN FACT: Both “The Thinker” & “The Kiss” were first in Rodin’s portal sculpture “The Gates of Hell” that depicts a scene from Dante’s Inferno. The Thinker was originally meant to be Dante in front of the Gates of Hell, pondering his great poem. Thus, the sculpture was named “The Poet” before being renamed.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 4:37pm
Coffin and Mummy of Irethorrou. ca. 500. Egypt
FUN FACT: Irethorrou was a wardrobe-priest of Min who specialized in funerary rituals and who once briefly battled Brendan Fraser.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 4:42pm
Unknown. ca. 500. Egypt.
FUN FACT: Dean forgot to take notes, so he has no idea what this is. But it looks neat.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 4:44pm
Scarab. ca. 500. Egypt.
FUN FACT: Scarabs are representations of the dung beetle which roll shit into balls larger than themselves.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 4:50pm
Hawk-Headed Lion. ca 100 BC. Egypt, Basalt.
FUN FACT: A hawk-headed sphinx, also called a gryphon, also called a hieracosphinx, is often shown as a representation of the king treading on his enemies. They are also a large, magical beasts with about 60-hit points.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:00pm
Auguste Rodin. “Bust of Victor Hugo” ca 1917. Marble.
FUN FACT: Conceived on a mountainside 3,000-feet above sea level, Victor was a French poet, novelist, and womanizer who wrote in the nude and penned the novels Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:02pm
Auguste Rodin. “The Kiss” ca 1884, cast unknown. Bronze cast.
FUN FACT: The Kiss depicts a noblewoman who falls in love with her husband’s younger brother. The couple are discovered and killed by her husband. The lovers' lips do not actually touch in the sculpture, suggesting that they were interrupted and met their demise before actually kissing. You’re welcome. 😙
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:08pm
Framing up Sir Joshua Reynolds’ “Anne, Viscountess Townsend.” 1773.
FUN FACT: During the 1760s, a portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds became something of a status symbol among England’s elite. Wealthy women, in particular, competed to commission society’s most admired painter.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:11pm
John Anster Fitzgerald. “Fairies in a Bird's Nest” ca. 1860. Oil on canvas.
FUN FACT: The frame of this fun and disturbing painting was made by the artist and is constructed out of twigs painted gold.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:16pm
Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux. “Le Chinois” ca 1872, cast unknown. Bronze.
FUN FACT: This is one of Carpeaux’s most celebrated sculptures. He also used it as part of his Fontaine de l'Observatoire in Paris representing ‘Asia’ along with four other full sculptures of women representing ‘Africa’, ‘America’, & ‘Europe’ holding a celestial sphere over their heads.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:14pm
Claude Monet. “Water Lilies” ca. 1914–1917. Oil on canvas.
FUN FACT: Monet painted approximately 250 oil paintings of water lilies. 😐 They were the main focus of his artistic production during the last THIRTY years of his life. This guy really, really liked his flower garden.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:30pm
George Segal. “The Holocaust” 1984. Bronze painted white.
FUN FACT: The memorial has been vandalized with swastikas and the use of splashes of red paint many times. Segal does not mind. He views these acts as an important reminder that prejudice is still rampant in our country, and antisemitism didn't end with the war. 😟
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 5:38pm
I'll be driving over this in the next hour. To everyone that helped make my stay here utterly amazing, thanks doesn't seem enough. I love you all. I'll see some of you soon. The playa awaits. For now. Onward north.
Day 16 – June 7, 2018 ∙ 7:46pm
It's world famous! Had to stop. So, right before finding this place, I stopped to get gas and what do I happen upon? Bear Republic Brewery! That closed at 5pm. 😐
Elk, Ca
Day 17
Friday, June 8, 2018
I thought it would be a pit stop. I did not expect this. It is beyond beautiful here. The coast has some sort of resonance, a calming effect that crashes over you. Also, it does not hurt to be hosted by two of the most wonderful humans. I spent the day getting to know them, as well as down at a small beach.
Check-Ins
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 9:30am
After driving well into the dark of night, I woke up to quite the surprise view.
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 10:00am
This beautiful creature was just hanging out while I scarfed down my breakfast.
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 2:32pm
Alone on a small beach, just soaking in the sheer power of nature.
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 3:01pm
Decided to build my home here. I think it’s come along nicely. (I didn’t really build this, but moved in and it’s mine now. #squatersrights)
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 3:40pm
I see an elephant! The view from my new front porch! Okay, now to dig the wine cellar.
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 5:53pm
On the road to the actual city of Elk! (As opposed to being 5 miles out of town, where I’m staying)
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 6:43pm
Elk, population ~200. How does this city have some of the best food on my trip?! Just look at this amazing dessert! Vanilla bean ice cream with chocolate-butterscotch haystacks! *drool*
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 8:51pm
This is exactly where I need to be right now. I cannot describe the aura of peace and tranquility that exudes from here. 🥰
Check-Ins
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 9:30am
After driving well into the dark of night, I woke up to quite the surprise view.
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 10:00am
This beautiful creature was just hanging out while I scarfed down my breakfast.
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 2:32pm
Alone on a small beach, just soaking in the sheer power of nature.
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 3:01pm
Decided to build my home here. I think it’s come along nicely. (I didn’t really build this, but moved in and it’s mine now. #squatersrights)
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 3:40pm
I see an elephant! The view from my new front porch! Okay, now to dig the wine cellar.
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 5:53pm
On the road to the actual city of Elk! (As opposed to being 5 miles out of town, where I’m staying)
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 6:43pm
Elk, population ~200. How does this city have some of the best food on my trip?! Just look at this amazing dessert! Vanilla bean ice cream with chocolate-butterscotch haystacks! *drool*
Day 17 – June 8, 2018 ∙ 8:51pm
This is exactly where I need to be right now. I cannot describe the aura of peace and tranquility that exudes from here. 🥰
Elk, Ca
Day 18
Saturday, June 9, 2018
Part of this trip is about getting to know people. But also, places. I have learned a lot about the history of this small little corner of the world. And with that knowledge, I feel a little closer to all those who came before and those I will never meet.
Check-Ins
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 1:27pm
My hosts are helping a fundraiser to save this inn! So, I’m joining them, SAVE THE INN!
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 2:06pm
These guys were one of many musicians to play, I’m sorry I didn’t get a shot of the accordion/harmonica guy, he was something.
FUN FACT: Originally made mostly out of wood, and the first instrument played in space, the Harmonica is the best-selling instrument in all of history! #warwithguitars
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 2:48pm
Strange to think of all the past souls who stood here absorbing this same view.
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 3:30pm
FUN FACT: First built for sailors in 1860, the inn soon became a boarding house for single mill hands, then a stopping place for stagecoach travelers, and finally a fishing resort for travelers from all over the world. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard also spent part of their honeymoon here!
Check-Ins
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 1:27pm
My hosts are helping a fundraiser to save this inn! So, I’m joining them, SAVE THE INN!
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 2:06pm
These guys were one of many musicians to play, I’m sorry I didn’t get a shot of the accordion/harmonica guy, he was something.
FUN FACT: Originally made mostly out of wood, and the first instrument played in space, the Harmonica is the best-selling instrument in all of history! #warwithguitars
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 2:48pm
Strange to think of all the past souls who stood here absorbing this same view.
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 3:30pm
FUN FACT: First built for sailors in 1860, the inn soon became a boarding house for single mill hands, then a stopping place for stagecoach travelers, and finally a fishing resort for travelers from all over the world. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard also spent part of their honeymoon here!
Mendocino, Ca
Day 19
Sunday, June 10, 2018
I had planned to leave today. But connections changed my plans. I explored the coast north, as well as the small town of Mendocino. Then I returned and joined some new friends for a delightful BBQ.
Check-Ins
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 12:44pm
Just north of Navarro Beach is this mundane piece of coastline.
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 12:48pm
Rode my bike around a bit and then just sat back and enjoyed the beautiful sounds of erosion.
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 3:13pm
I drank a beer and ate a sandwich.
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 3:50pm
I decided to visit a nearby watering hole and learn the customs of the locals.
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 4:51pm
The estuary of the Navarro River.
FUN FACT: Deltas are when rivers deposit sediments into the ocean/lake. Estuaries are when the ocean/lake floods up into the river valley. It's slightly more complex than that, but this is a FUN FACT, not a term paper! Get off my back!
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 5:15pm
So, met some of Marilyn’s neighbors yesterday and they invited me to their Sunday BBQ! So, I stayed an extra day and whoa, look their house!
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 5:21pm
The piano might need a little more than a tune-up.
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 6:31pm
Just a random horse walking around and grazing as we eat.
FUN FACT: Horses and ponies are members of the same species, Equus caballus. The main difference between a horse and a pony is height. They are measured in units called 'hands', with one hand equaling 4 inches.
Check-Ins
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 12:44pm
Just north of Navarro Beach is this mundane piece of coastline.
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 12:48pm
Rode my bike around a bit and then just sat back and enjoyed the beautiful sounds of erosion.
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 3:13pm
I drank a beer and ate a sandwich.
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 3:50pm
I decided to visit a nearby watering hole and learn the customs of the locals.
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 4:51pm
The estuary of the Navarro River.
FUN FACT: Deltas are when rivers deposit sediments into the ocean/lake. Estuaries are when the ocean/lake floods up into the river valley. It's slightly more complex than that, but this is a FUN FACT, not a term paper! Get off my back!
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 5:15pm
So, met some of Marilyn’s neighbors yesterday and they invited me to their Sunday BBQ! So, I stayed an extra day and whoa, look their house!
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 5:21pm
The piano might need a little more than a tune-up.
Day 18 – June 9, 2018 ∙ 6:31pm
Just a random horse walking around and grazing as we eat.
FUN FACT: Horses and ponies are members of the same species, Equus caballus. The main difference between a horse and a pony is height. They are measured in units called 'hands', with one hand equaling 4 inches.
U.S. Route 101, Ca
Day 20
Monday, June 11, 2018
I cannot tell you why I thought a 6+ hour drive to get to my Oregon campsite was a good choice. Because in doing so, I had to blast through some of the most gorgeous woodlands in North America. Beautiful woodlands that definitely had camping opportunities. I think, even without an agenda, I felt this trip was taking a little longer than I had thought it would.
Check-Ins
Day 20 – June 11, 2018 ∙ 9:31am
Me and my strangely giant forehead saying goodbye to an amazing host.
Day 20 – June 11, 2018 ∙ 10:08pm
FUN FIBS: Home of Camp Bloodsport.
Day 20 – June 11, 2018 ∙ 12:40pm
Tree big. Car small.
Day 20 – June 11, 2018 ∙ 12:55pm
Tree tall.
FUN FACT: This is the world's largest remaining contiguous old-growth forest of coast redwoods, many of which grow to over 300 feet (91 m) in height.
Day 20 – June 11, 2018 ∙ 1:58pm
So, at this point, I needed to drive another four hours or so and set up camp at Grayback Creek, Oregon before dark. Looking back, I should have just camped here and spent the day exploring instead of rushing through. Still, I had a fun time playing in Endor. 😊
Day 20 – June 11, 2018 ∙ 2:56pm
A quick pit stop before pushing through into Oregon.
Drinking: Fogcutter Double IPA.
Day 20 – June 11, 2018 ∙ 7:17pm
Food and drink to get me through the night! Campground ETA 10:45pm!
Check-Ins
Day 20 – June 11, 2018 ∙ 9:31am
Me and my strangely giant forehead saying goodbye to an amazing host.
Day 20 – June 11, 2018 ∙ 10:08pm
FUN FIBS: Home of Camp Bloodsport.
Day 20 – June 11, 2018 ∙ 12:40pm
Tree big. Car small.
Day 20 – June 11, 2018 ∙ 12:55pm
Tree tall.
FUN FACT: This is the world's largest remaining contiguous old-growth forest of coast redwoods, many of which grow to over 300 feet (91 m) in height.
Day 20 – June 11, 2018 ∙ 1:58pm
So, at this point, I needed to drive another four hours or so and set up camp at Grayback Creek, Oregon before dark. Looking back, I should have just camped here and spent the day exploring instead of rushing through. Still, I had a fun time playing in Endor. 😊
Day 20 – June 11, 2018 ∙ 2:56pm
A quick pit stop before pushing through into Oregon.
Drinking: Fogcutter Double IPA.
Day 20 – June 11, 2018 ∙ 7:17pm
Food and drink to get me through the night! Campground ETA 10:45pm!
Cave Junction, Or
Day 21
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
As a child, my father lived on a farm in Grant’s Pass, they could not leave for very long on trips, as daily duties needed doing. He recalls visiting Crater Lake and the Oregon Caves as his big getaways. It is odd being here. Exploring his past, being in a location he once was, so long ago. Makes me reflect again on the temporariness of everything.
Check-Ins
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 9:28am
Camped solo for the first time last night! Like completely solo, there was literally no one at the campground. Also, I was not eaten by a bear or deranged mountain men. Solid win.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 11:32am
My dad told me his parents brought him here when he was a kid when they lived in Grant’s Pass. I don’t have many connections like that with my parents, so this was super cool.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 11:20pm
The entrance. Hope a Darth Vader with my face isn’t in there waiting for me.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 11:55pm
Caves are strange.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 12:10pm
FUN FACT: The offset of that line of dark rock is a fault line visualized.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 12:19pm
Graffiti on an alien eggs sac. I mean limestone that has metamorphosed into marble. There are no aliens down here.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 12:30pm
So, there are aliens down here. My guide just mentioned 4-inch cave crickets. 😶 Here is a beautiful piece of marble.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 12:41pm
I escaped before being attacked by the subterranean, soul-sucking, potentially alien, 4-inch cave bugs. And this view above the caves is absolutely stunning. *rustles from behind me* 😲
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 12:42pm
This deer just walked up within a few feet of me, stared at me questioningly, and promptly turned away when I asked for their photograph.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 2:40pm
Swung by my Dad’s childhood home in the 40s.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 7:15pm
First stop after hours of driving. Met some more cool bar peeps, this time from Anaheim!? I’m beginning to love chatting up strangers at the bar.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 9:31pm
Definitely digging the vibe of this place. Also, I chatted up a cute girl. 😁
Check-Ins
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 9:28am
Camped solo for the first time last night! Like completely solo, there was literally no one at the campground. Also, I was not eaten by a bear or deranged mountain men. Solid win.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 11:32am
My dad told me his parents brought him here when he was a kid when they lived in Grant’s Pass. I don’t have many connections like that with my parents, so this was super cool.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 11:20pm
The entrance. Hope a Darth Vader with my face isn’t in there waiting for me.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 11:55pm
Caves are strange.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 12:10pm
FUN FACT: The offset of that line of dark rock is a fault line visualized.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 12:19pm
Graffiti on an alien eggs sac. I mean limestone that has metamorphosed into marble. There are no aliens down here.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 12:30pm
So, there are aliens down here. My guide just mentioned 4-inch cave crickets. 😶 Here is a beautiful piece of marble.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 12:41pm
I escaped before being attacked by the subterranean, soul-sucking, potentially alien, 4-inch cave bugs. And this view above the caves is absolutely stunning. *rustles from behind me* 😲
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 12:42pm
This deer just walked up within a few feet of me, stared at me questioningly, and promptly turned away when I asked for their photograph.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 2:40pm
Swung by my Dad’s childhood home in the 40s.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 7:15pm
First stop after hours of driving. Met some more cool bar peeps, this time from Anaheim!? I’m beginning to love chatting up strangers at the bar.
Day 21 – June 12, 2018 ∙ 9:31pm
Definitely digging the vibe of this place. Also, I chatted up a cute girl. 😁
Next Week on Dean Runs Away!
After some hard-core museum-ing, saving a historical landmark, and spelunking to the center of the earth, Dean now travels northward into the great unknown! Will he slip and slide down a hill and off the edge of a cliff, falling into a raging river…that ends in this waterfall?! Was that oddly specific?
Continue the adventure into Week Four to find out!
