There is something interesting about crossing the border from California to Oregon. Somehow it all feels a bit more peaceful. It gets a bit quieter and emptier.
Travel
Back to the coast
The days at Lake Tahoe are very relaxing. Despite that I spend quite some working while I’m there, it’s a nice break from driving and hiking.
Hiking with a friend and relaxing at Lake Tahoe
Monday morning I text with my friend Ana to meet the old fashion way: agreeing on a location and a time and just be there. It’s because I have no cell service in Yosemite park, so when I drive into the park I have no way of communicating anymore.
Weekend of sunshine in LA and snow in Yosemite
Saturday is a great day. After a few hours at the M Street coffee place the weather clears up and it gets nice and sunny outside. On the map I saw a park nearby where I can go for a hike.
Driving 200 miles for a sandwich and a change of plans
It’s Friday morning and I wake up nice and early in my car parked at the usual place in Hollywood. I know what I’d like to do this morning, hike to Griffith Observatory. It’s a nice climb up the mountain through the park.
Another day in LA & Hollywood
It is Thursday today and I’ve been almost a week in America. It’s been only seven days, but it feels way longer ago that I’ve left the Netherlands. Probably because I’ve been doing a lot and already had so many great experiences.
Friends, work and coffee
After I’ve visited the movie studios I drive to my friend Matt. I’m feeling a bit sad to leave Hollywood, but it’ll be fun to meet him again. The traffic is very busy and it turns out to be good that I left the movie studios on time. All five lanes of the interstate are packed with cars and it takes me a few hours to get to Matt’s house in Orange County.
It’s roadtrip time
It’s Monday morning, time to leave the hostel and pick up my car. After I’ve packed all my bags and done a bit of work, I take the bus to the center. A bit early I arrive at Hertz where I’m greeted enthusiastically by Melisa, the manager. We catch up for a bit and then she hands me the keys to a minivan.
Fun day with friends
On Saturday morning I walk to the grocery store around the corner of the hostel. I don’t know if it’s because of inflation or that it’s a local supermarket, but I notice that prices seem a lot higher than last year. I’m glad that the dollar is so low compared to the euro at the moment, that compensates it again.
I get the usual things for breakfast and walk back to the hostel. After breakfast I look up where some good coffee places are nearby and I find Bird Rock Coffee and Moniker nearby. Bird Rock doesn’t have much place to sit, so I walk further to Moniker. It’s a nice hip coffee place and I decide to sit down for a while.
Enjoying a vacation day
It’s around 4.30am and I’m in the shower at the hostel where I’m staying the coming days. The shower head reaches just over my shoulder, so I have to bend a bit to get water on my head. Just a detail, but it makes me realize again how good things are back home. Simple things like a good shower are easy to take for granted until you’re in a place where you don’t have it.