The Coast

Pictures from the coast-Enjoy







Crescent City Lighthouse


What happen to this tree?


Pretty colors


Decorating Ideas


Tree Hugger!


Big Redwood Trees


Lighthouses


Lighthouse located at the windiest spot of the western coast in the USA


Golden Gate Bridge


On the golden gate playground


Japanese Tea Garden with cute cousin's kids





The super windy Lombard St.

Sourdough creations

Pictures from the Northwest

Mt Rainer

Lighthouse Love-Point no point

She finally did it.

Seattle Ferry-Puget Sound

Love Liz

Day 11-14

Day 11
World Soccer has started, but I was able to enjoy some highlights of that morning game. Becca and I headed to San Diego. The first stop was the zoo. It is well-known and I loved it. Some many animals, so little time. It was nice to walk, walk, and walk some more. That night, we enjoy Old Town San Diego. What a gem! We toured the new Mormon Battlion Museum and enjoy some good food at a cute place that overlooked the busy street. We enjoy watching the Laffing Red Devils bike gang park at the Catholic church and eat where we were eating. Before spending the night at Fireball's extended family house, I was able to visit with Nene. She happened to be living in San Diego due to her husband working for the US Navy shipyard. What a blast!



Day 12
Starting to wear down on my trip, we headed back to Huntington Beach after visiting the San Diego Temple (no pictures because it was completely covered in scaffolding). Then Becca enjoyed the beach and I enjoyed watching my little cousin play basketball with my cousin and his girlfriend. That night we enjoyed the night life at the Taco Shack. Great Entertainment.

Day 13
Becca returned by plane and I drove to another cousin's house on the east side of LA. It was so much fun to spend time with Dan and Gabby and their kids. I talked too much because, I slept in and talked so more and didn't leave their house until noon. I dung in and drove hard to arrive at my brother's house in Payson to spend the night.

Day 14
Before I made the hour drive to SLC, I visited some great friends working EFY in Provo. The unpacking and laundry has begun.

Day 9-10 - US Open

Day 9
I headed past San Fran and headed down highway 1 around Montrey, CA. I saw a sign for Pebble Beach and was like that was a famous beach, I can stop there. As I drove closer, I noticed all these special signs directing people for golf traffic. I thought, oh, there must a golf thing going on. As I got closer to Pebble Beach. It suddenly hit me, why it was famous. U.S. Open. Traffic was crazy. I can say that I went to Pebble Beach to the US Open. I didn't see anyone famous. It was a beautiful drive, I was able to stop and spend some time watching sea lions molt. Uber exciting and fascinating. Then, I toured the Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Pretty cool, if you like history and great decorating ideas for the rich and the famous with historical artifacts.





Day 10
I made it to LA-I drove past all the cool beaches. I stop to hang out with my cousin Sam who lives in Huntington Beach. It is truly a gorgeous beach. Nothing exciting to report, except my roommate flew in to join me for a few days.

Day 7-8 Northern California

Day 7
Crescent City to Santa Rosa- I woke up to find a lighthouse near me. Whoohoo!
I decided to take Highway 1 instead of 101 because it was closer to the coast. I still can't decide if it was the best choose. I spent the first hour driving some seriously windy mountain roads and didn't go over 35 mph. I started to become a little carsick. I was lucky to find more lighthouses, so it did make it worth the drive. I ended the day done with windy roads. I craved people to people conservation. My phone didn't a signal on most of the coast. I was dying to get out of the car in Santa Rosa. Thanks-Heather's parents for letting me crash at your house. I decided to take a run in their neighborhood. I was able to enjoy the sunset and a good book to help calm my driving nerves. Slept like a baby.

Day 8-San Francisco
I decided to find a lighthouse, Point Reyes. It also happens to be the windiest place on the west coast. I am here to verify that. I headed to downtown San Fran. to meet my cousin and her kids. Thanks-Suzy for sharing your kids with me for the day. I miss cute little children.
Things I learned in my day in San Fran.
-Golden Gate bridge toll only takes cash even though no sign will tell you that, so when you try to pay with a card, you can't.
-Golden Gate Park-amazing, a great park in the middle of the city.
-The city has alot of no left turns, it can be difficult to navigate the city.
-I thought Seattle had hills and it was fun driving a manual tranmission car. I didn't hit anyone.
-There is a bushman on Fisherman's wharf that scares people for fun and asks for money from spectators for watching his "show."
-Big cities are expensive.

Day 5-6 Name that volcano

Day 5
I got up and said my goodbyes to Home base.
I was able to have lunch with old friend Holly and Jenni in Tacoma. It was sunny and Mt. Rainer was seeable. I almost broke down in tears when crossing the bridge with the Rainer in the background. I had forgotten the feeling I had had when I first moved here. It was tender.
I drove down to Vancouver, WA to spend the night with my aunt and uncle. We had a small BBQ with them and some cousins and their families. I was able to see Mt. St. Helens and even Mt. Hood, that is how sunny it was. It rarely happens.

Day 6
It wasn't supposed to be a long day, but it became one. I went to church with cousin, then drove to Corvallis area to visit another cousin. I had lunch and then visited the cemetery where my mother's grandparents were buried. I miss them.
I drove to the coast. My official coastal trip had begun. The Oregon coast is beautiful. Rocky cliffs, very green. I ended up driving all the way through Oregon in one day. It was rushed and I was exhausted by the time I reach Crescent City, CA. Phew. Favorite moment-it was when I reached the CA border and then stop you to make sure you don't have any fruit you are smuggling into the state. I asked does dried fruit count (I had been given dried mangos from Annie). Nope, she thought that was a good question.

Adventures Day 3-4

Day 3
I was able to go to lunch at Noah's with Susan, co-worker at one time. Before we ate, we tried to stop by a Tattoo parlor where former students worked. It was my first time in such a place and I survived. Then, I was able to spend some quality girl time with KELLY and her "naughty" boys (those were her words). I was fed by the talented Annie and her family. What a Treat! Of course, running back to home base (thanks Fireball and Fireball trainer).

Day 4
Was able to take another great walk in the morning in the neighborhood of home base, Right before I drove up to Point-No-point lighthouse, I had lunch with Matt at Hi-Lo's. Then, returned to home base for a small two hour nap. Later, I was fortuante enough to attend another graduation for Olympic High School for little johnny (now know as John). He also gave a speech, he was ASB president. It was pretty quick. Thanks, Frys for letting me invade. I was unofficially adopted.

Pacific Coast Adventure #1

Day 1
So I left Utah and started my two week adventure. It began with a drive to Boise, Idaho. I was able to have lunch with an good friend, whom I have not seen in 7 years, Liz. We were roommates back in my college days. I can't believe that it has been so long, it seems like only yesterday, I left NC. (um, that was 8 years ago)

I stayed in Oregon in a hotel. It was my first time staying in a hotel room by myself. It was weird walking into the room. I am used to finding a place for my stuff in the room that is out of the way. I didn't have to worry about picking what bed or whom do I have to share it with. I went to the pool and spa by myself. It was able to sleep in and not disturbed by anyone. I didn't have to wait in line for the bathroom and rush. Weird, I guess that is what happens when you grew up in a big family, although it was weird to sit in a hotel room by myself. Good thing I brought some books to read.

Day 2
I drove to Seattle and made PERFECT timing to ride the ferry. I mean perfect timing, which was drive up and get on. This never happen when I lived here. It was a sunny ride on the ferry and perfect weather. I miss the green trees and mountains here, oh the water. (Puget sound). It was so cool to see Safeco Field, the needle, big cargo ships in the sound. What threw me for a loop is arriving in B-town and realizing there is a tunnel exiting there. Last time it was only talk, but reality. WHAT! I arrived at my destination the Towers, who are the best. I quickly ran over to Ridgetop Jr. High school and visited the principal there. He used to my principal when I worked here many moons ago. It is fun to show and surprise people.

Then, I was able to attend Renaissance High School Graduation (the alternative school, I used to work for). They had 50 graduates (never had more than 24 before). I thought that since it had been 3 years since I worked at the school, I would know any of the graduates, WRONG! I saw some students, who I had given up on that made it. It was a good thing, one of the staff brought tissues. I was privileged to see former graduates and talk to them, it was truly a blessing and reminded me why I love being a teacher and why I do it.

PS-I would have photos, but I have forgotten my camera cord. It will have to wait.