Straight West Coastin

Hello Everybody!!

Sorry for the massive delay in blogging, weve been very busy enjoying the California weather and only just got around to getting to a library. Its very hard to think about blogging when youre so relaxed. Because of the long time between posts, were gonna do another splitsies. Im going to tell you all about our Bay Area and Santa Cruz times, and Chris will fill you in on our Big Sur and Los Angeles escapades (Just for a small preview, Christian Slater was involved multiple times, but thats all ill say now).

After a beautiful drive down the California coast and some amazing Pacific views, we entered the Bay Area by way of the Golden Gate Bridge. We could have gotten to my Aunt Debbies place in Oakland much quicker by avoiding it, but it was definitely worth the detour, and the six dollar toll. After spending a day in Oakland walking around and enjoying the beautiful weather that is significantly hotter than San Francisco even though its only right across the bay, we ventured into San Fran for a day of some good old fashioned touristing, Two Guys and a Chevy Style (actually the Chevy stayed in Oakland in a primo parking spot that it didnt want to give up. Lazy Chevy!)

We walked from downtown all the way to the waterfront, passing through Chinatown and Little Italy. From there we went on the Alcatraz tour, which was one of the only things I didnt do the last time I was in San Fran. It had come highly recommended from multiple sources and definitely lived up to its billing. I even almost got to rid myself of Chris by locking him in solitary containment and quietly slipping back on the boat (To my great surprise though he escaped and braved the icy waters with some help from Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery and somehow found his way back to San Fran by the time my boat got back to shore.) We then took the most exhilariting Trolley Car ride up and down the hills of the city hanging off the side of one of the cars. It was actually an amazingly fun time, and went much faster and smoother than we expected.

We spent the next couple days in the Haight area with all the former hippies and Dead-heads, exploring the city a little bit. Then on Saturday we somehow stumbled upon a giant free Bluegrass festival in Golden Gate park where we got to see some great shows and tons of Steve Earle, who I had never seen live before. He had a headlining set with a small bluegrass band. They were all crowded around one microphone and the wind was swirling around everywhere, and they just brought the house down. Very Epic.

The next day the Two Guys, the Chevy, and our friend Shannon, who we met up with in San Francisco, drove down to Santa Cruz to meet up with everyones favorite new Californian, Katy Tosh! Shes a freshman at UC Santa Cruz, which is this incredible school built right in the middle of the redwood forest on a bluff overlooking the ocean. That sounds like its too good to be true, but its not. Its very real and very idylic. Katy really did a hell of a job choosing her college. And to think I spent the last four years trudging through the coldest place in the world when I could have been beaching it and redwooding it in sunny California. (Im just kidding Montreal, you know I love you!)

We had a great time in Santa Cruz reliving our freshman year experiences for a few days, down to staying in a dorm room and eating caf food. I have to say, it made me a little nostalgic for the good old days. (Not that my life is too shabby right now). For those who are concerned, Katy is doing great in Santa Cruz, she has a great new group of friends, and has seamlessly adapted to her new forest life, not that anyone expected any different.

Before I finish, id like to give special thanks to Debbie, Natalie and AJ, and the best little sister anyone could ask for, Katy, for their great hospitality in the Bay area and Santa Cruz. Hopefully we were as good guests as you guys were host. Much love to all of you!

Anyway, I gotta go now, be sure to check Chris' post too, which is on top of this one, and check back in a couple days for a special guest post (and its not the Chevy!)

Keep it real everyone!

Nick