we are adventuring/ we are adventurers: 07.2010

i was pretty happy to leave san francisco. we drive up to the northern coast where we set up camp. we go on many walks and many drives and we cook vegetables over an open flame. we saw no bears and i am very thankful for that.

Since we were camping right near the coast, every day this fog would roll in and cover the tops of the trees and mountains, which was very beautiful but cold. One of my favorite walks we did was a short loop through the old growth redwoods. I know this seems obvious, but they were so big, its kind of indescribable. Also it wasn't foggy there, but the trees blocked out most of the light and there seemed to be a golden glow throughout the forest. I don't really know what else I can say so I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

We left very early this morning and headed toward portland, oregon. I don't know what it is about oregon, but it just feels so good to be here. Its warmer, for one thing, like summer weather again. And it reminds me a lot of new jersey but a lot prettier and more spacious. AND they have full-service gas stations. Yeah, oregon is pretty great so far.

i will post more about portland when we explore a bit more.

So I last left you after we finished driving California's Highway 1 and Big Sur in passing. We stayed in a nondescript hotel but indulged in a fantastic meal. It was a sushi restaurant called "Oh! Sushi" and it was easily the best rolls I have ever had. Allie got a roll that was pink for whatever reason (that I couldn't figure out) stuffed with veggie tempura that was accompanied with a sauce similar to an eel roll but with the texture of molasses. I have a spicy scallop, avocado and eel avocado. Really, really amazing.

ANYWAY

we drive up to Santa Cruz to witness the amazing, world famous Mystery Spot. It is hard to explain what it is. I'll give you a quick "history of the mystery." After researching it, the place seemed to be easily explained. It is a cabin and surrounding red woods area that apparently has some kind of warped magnetic field. We were told a man bought the house from a lumber company. He built the cabin up on a hill and the magnetic force pulled the building into the very center of the "mystery spot." We walked through that VERY cabin. Walking in has a couple side effects. First, you shrink 2 in.. Second, you get all dizzy and last of all your equilibrium is out of whack. as we walked up a steep hill the tour guide explained walking up the hill was hard because of this weird magnetic field. I think it was hard because it was really steep. I'm obviously skeptical at this point. We approach a broken down, unleveled house. This is the hard part to explain, walking through the building was wild. I'm sorry, there is no way to explain the experience. It was obviously a hoax but something put everyone at a 17 degree incline despite the floor being flat. It was so strong, you could walk up a vertical wall. Pretty wild. Without pictures this description is pointless so lets just say it was a ton of fun.

the next day we went somewhere called the Winchester Mansion. A woman a century ago inherited all the Winchester trust fund (the gun company). She went crazy thinking the ghosts of everyone who had died from the winchester rifle were haunting her. She went to a some sort of whacko that told her she wouldn't have any problems if she kept her house in constant construction. The weird thing was the construction plans were given to her by the ghosts. She had doorways that would drop to the ground 20 ft below or a cabinet that doesn't have any holding space. Totally weird.

We hide out in Fremont, Ca for two nights. We needed a break and the hotel was only $45 a night. We watched tv and ate indian food for two days. It was a waste but a well deserved waste. Driving this much can ware on you.

but we are back from our little sleepy time and in San Francisco. We went to the San Francisco MOMA first thing and it was pretty great. They had everything we learned about in collage but never had the ability to see. They had an impressive collection. Now today we went to Fisherman's wharf which is the touristy area. Road a cable car (trolley) went through china town, walked around the shopping areas of Union Square to get warm cloths (By the way, it is amazingly cold here!). Went to a FANTASTIC dum sum place and now we are planning our trip to portland in a couple days!

heading to camp in the northern red woods tomorrow so that is why I'm posting! we will not be able to until we get to Portland on the 30.

We are safe, having fun and far from home!