Santa Rosa Summer fun! =p

The adventures of Niki and Cara!



Old friends! Oh what fun!

Exploring San Fran with Niki!

Hello world!

Niki (my Aussie friend) and I are visiting San Fran!

Today, Niki and I took the BART in from Berkeley into the city. We tried to visit the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) with Michelle (road tripping companion from Denver), Caleb and Trevor (Arches buddies) but seeing as it was closed we headed along the Embarcadero to Pier 39. After checking out the sea lions (owh owh owh) we walked Fisherman's Wharf to Ghirardelli square better known as chocolateville where we split a sundae! Then it was along the cost to the Palace of Fine Arts to see the lake and beautiful sculptures made for the worlds fair. It was beautiful and then a bee somehow ended up down the back of my shirt. It decided to sting me and after a bit of a strip show the bee and stinger were removed...yay! What fun! After cheap mexican for dinner (thumbs up for the super burrito) the 22 bus took us to my cousin Ben's house. So here we are now at Ben and his wife Haiete's apartment. Their car creamy, short for creamsickle is eyeing and chasing my bracelets across the mac lap top.

Cara =)

Home Again, Home Again!

I have arrived safely back in Santa Rosa, CA.

I am getting reacquainted with my little life here...I like what I see.

I have been so busy running around and enjoying myself that I have not taken a single photo upon return...no photos to post!

Cara =) xxxxx

Arrived in Moab!

Hello all!

Michelle and I have arrived in Moab, UT. We camped out under the stars last night, not as restful as it sounds, neither of us slept well. We were haunted by strange dreams...the desert I tell you!

Early this morning we drove from Rabbit Valley to Arches National Park. The terrain is absiolutely amazing. The geology is incredible....mind boggling....2 g's or 1....I'm a bit warm! It is pretty hot and we are pretty dead after last night.

We are about to rendez vous with 2 Couch Surfers from Denver, Trevor and Kaleb whom we met. Then its the other half of Arches and free camping in National Forest (the way to save money and be away from the RVs, the screaming children, the rules and regulations)!

Canyonlands and Salt Lake City tomorrow!

Cara =)

Day 51- Off to Moab

Michelle (the Canadian CSer I went to boulder with) and I are off to Moab. Then its to CA via Salt Lake City and Nevada...I think!

Cara =)

Day 47- Shitake...I mean Chautauqua Park

So after Rockie Mountain NP we spent the night in Boulder and the next day explored Chautauqua Park. Chautauqua Park is famous for the Flatirons which is some of the best rock climbing in the world! So Michelle and I hiked in and I hiked up to the 2nd Flatiron. Beautiful rocks, amazing formations!

Rocky Mountain National Park take 2

Slurpalicious Slurpee before departure

Crossing the Continental Divide! Hooray! The rivers are running different directions!

Bum to Bum elk, could it not be more perfect. The light, the time of day.....

Rocky Mountain high.

Return to Boulder! CS Host to our CS host Paul makes Thai noodles...I dreamed about Thai noodles the night before and these are literally the nooooodles of my DREAMS! So I am ecstatic!

Goodmorning Bunny
Our CS host in Boulder has the best bunny ever! The bunny which behaves like a dog! It runs up to you in the backyard! Cara loves this bunny! It's name is 'Bunny' but we nicknamed it Sabertooth, to make it seem vicious.

Denver....STILL.

So.....

News on my end is not so good. Cara finally made a decision and plans regarding her summer and a road trip south...so what now Cara!?!

Well....

My road trip partner and coconspirator bailed on me on the 4th of July! Hooray! Those pretty fireworks erupting on the Denver skyline mocked my pain! lol. On the day of the 4th, Ryan and I found a rider, Darren (a really nice English backpacker), to go with us all the way to Memphis! This is what we had been waiting for. I had lined up people in New Orelans and beyond but we needed someone to share gas with us along the way.

For Ryan this made it all to real and he reliased with full certainty that he wanted to be a lone wolf...so we had planned to leave Denver on the 5th but instead Ryan headed to Pheonix, AZ. The ultimate irony was that he needed a ride to his method of Denver departure and, of course, I dropped him off! Like giving a prisoner a spoon I joked! We are still on good terms. Half of me respects his decision and understands while the other half of me feels DITCHED and angry....but the anger disapated after a day....now I am just tired....emotionally.

So I decided 'to hell with it', I'm going! I packed everything up and was all ready in the car with poor Darren. Ice chest packed, laundry still drying and hanging from hooks on the roof.....and I just had a bad feeling. I was not excited. I was hestistant. I felty like I needed to call someone...a lot of someones. After Darren jumped out in Memphis, I would most likely be driving from Memphis to New Orleans solo, something I never planned on and did not like. The trip was not as well planned as I would have liked and when we were planning Ryan and I said we would not leave Denver without another rider. So why the hell was I leaving with only 1 other person and on top of that driving alone for a large portion of the trip!?!

SO I STOPPED!

So anyway, I am still in Denver!!! Cara loves Denver apparently, just can't leave! Karlee (my first couchsurfing host) came to rescue me and chat and I am now staying with her again...she is wonderful!

I am not trying to find a road tripper replacement...I don't think it is possible. I am working out what to do next. Either go back to CA via plane or drive Jenny (the name of my van) back. If I drive back I'll either sell her or maybe do another trip. If I leave her in Denver I would have to return to get her. In all honesty, I am not sure what I am up for after being completely stressed after Road Trip #1 out and having plans change on me (did a bit of crying) for Road Trip #2.

As elusive as ever, the future is always a mystery,

Cara =)

mexican cat

Day 40- DENVER

We plotting and scheming for our next trip. The rough route and itinerary are set! Denver, Colorado to Charlotte, North Carolina and lots in between! About 2, 538 miles in between to be exact, which about 1 day and 18 hours total driving time!

Posts are up online, Flyers were posted at hostels today. And now we wait. And while we wait....




We went and saw the British Comedy 'Shaun of the dead' at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. The rocks were amazing as was the view from the top of the theater.

Dave, PJ, Brian, Cara and Karlee being wined and dined at a Denver Couch Surfer's humble abode! Dave made a beautiful farfalle pasta with a mushroom cheese sauce accompanied by flambe bananas over vanilla ice cream for dessert!  What a chef!

Interested in a Summer road trip? Denver into the Southeast!!!

Looking for fun, energetic, happy, traveling kind-o-people interested in doing a summer road trip. 2 spots left in the car unless you want to convoy along in your own car….that sounds fun too!

Come for the whole trip or just part of the way! We are somewhat flexible with dates.

DEPARTING from Denver, CO on July 5, traveling until July 26-ish (ending in North Carolina).

Southern Charm and Hospitality! Yeah!!:

Kansas City, Springfield, MO, The Ozarks, Memphis, Tupelo, Natchez Parkway (scenic drive), Baton Rouge, New Orleans, along the coast to Tallahassee, Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston, Charlotte... anything else you want to see?

COSTS: Share costs equally…budget travel style.
ACCOMMODATION: a lot of COUCHSURFING!!! possibly some camping...

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT US: bonjourcara.blogspot.com

Write if interested in tagging along for some of the way…ask us about alternative dates, routes, stops…we’re keen! We can chat about what you’re looking for and see if we fit!

CARA'S COUCHSURFING PROFILE:
http://www.couchsurfing.com/profile.html?id=9XHA7K

Driving Directions
Link: <http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=17340750150248811449,33.536730,-89.149340%3B10669721118197828965,33.035613,-89.580306%3B12538786377811184451,32.563276,-89.910142&saddr=Denver,+CO&daddr=Kansas+City+to:Springfield,+MO+to:Memphis+to:Tupelo+to:Natchez+Trace+Pkwy+%4033.536730,+-89.149340+to:Natchez+Trace+Pkwy+%4033.035613,+-89.580306+to:Natchez+Trace+Pkwy+%4032.563276,+-89.910142+to:Jackson,+Hinds,+Mississippi,+United+States+to:New+Orleans,+Orleans,+Louisiana,+United+States+to:Pensacola+to:Tallahassee+to:Savannah+to:Charleston+to:Charlotte,+NC&mra=pr&mrcr=3&via=5,6,7&sll=34.849875,-92.460937&sspn=19.568863,45.527344&ie=UTF8&z=5>

So it is Day 2 in Denver!

TODAY:

Ryan and I awoke to our great CS hosts, Andy and Liz, making breakfast (scrambled eggs, toast and jam). We ate....yum! and then packed up and out. Out to the pool and spa in their gated community! I swam laps...the pool was cooold...but, the sun was warm seeing as Denver gets 350 days of sunshine a year....people here a spoiled I tell you! Then we ate cookies and candy from the reception/leasing office while we used the net to try and plot Road Trip Number 2. We are torn in a lot of directions! Then we drove Jenny (our van who is currently communicating with us purely through non stop dinging and clicking via her door ajar light and cute little infuriating noise) to downtown Denver where we met up with other CouchSurfers to participate in a FREEZE (check it out http://www.westword.com/events/freeze-denver-flash-mob-808395/ or on youtube...it's awesome)! At 3pm in the 16th Street Mall we all froze. We then walked back to Capitol Park and chatted about our feat. Now it is internet at the library (more plotting and scheming) and then I think Brazilian food for dinner with CSers!

The future is still uncertain,

Cara =)

Day whatever....33 maybe?

Hey Hey!

I am in Rocky Mountains! Off to Fort Collins and Denver! =)

Road trip number 2 looming on the horizon!

And then there were 2....the trip ends!

So the road trip is over...for now! Time for some rest and relaxation!

Patrice left yesterday, the French gals the day before.

So now it is Ryan (a CSer from Detriot who joined us in Salt Lake City) and I. Today we went out to the Badlands National Park. It was beautiful. I thought it was nice when we arrived, it reminded me of the soft sedimentary rock and geology similar to Bryce and Grand Canyon. However, by the afternoon a combination of spectacular storm and white whipped clouds had rolled in, softening the light. The muted illumination enhanced the landscape. Ryan and I hiked a trail called the Notch Trail which he had done last time he was in the Badlands. It was unique for it's rope ladder. Walking through the landscape as the light shifted, feeling the cracked soil crunch beneath my boots, the Badlands seduced me. The view at the end of the trail overlooked a landscape that took my breath away and sent my camera shutter flying

Day-

We have arrived in South Dakota! Hooray!

The French gals left yesterday.

Patrice left today.

And the there were 2....and their awesome host Chris who is house sitting the most beautiful 'log cabin' I've ever experienced!

Day 19- Cody, Wyoming

Our Couch Surfing host Pat took us horse ridding with her niece!


Cowgirls out for our ride at Heart Moutain Trail, WY.
Laure on Oscar, Cara on Butthead and Laura on Bud.

Beautiful Bud and Moonpie.

My horse Butthead.


The view and our guide Pat!

Day 17- Gardiner, Montana

Hello all!

Yes, we have made it to Montanta. 4 States in 4 day! Ahh! Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana!

This is all for me now as I am outside the 'North Entrance Wash Tub' using their free internet (the girls did some washing today so we have access). However they are closed right now so Patrice and I are in the car with the dome lights on....we are like internet addicts...getting our fix, planning more of the trip. It's about 35F/1C outside so I am off!

Bye for now! xxx

Day 12- Last day and night in Salt Lake City

Bar entry: Yes, you have to buy membership to Utah Bars so that you can enter, anywhere else they call it a cover charge....but this is Mormon territory.


The ladies (both Brian and Max have now left the road trip so we are only 4) and our CS hosts!


The Tabernacle Choir, one of the best choirs in the world and the oldest continous broadcats in the states. They were ethereal.


Cara went swimming! Yay for health! See the beautiful mountains in the background!
Ohhh Ahhh!

Onto Grand Tetons and Yellowstone! We have 3 new members:
Ryan the Couch surfing American from Detroit
Our Salt Lake hosts Lance and Steve and coming for the weekend with us!

So 7 in the van! AHHHH! All Aborad!

PS. I love Couch Surfing! Everyone is wonderful!

Day 5: ZION- Hiking Angels Landing!

Always a good sign!


"This is crazy! This is crazy! This is nuts! I can't believe they let people do this!" I kept saying! There is a series of these photos which were taken on a tiny piece of rock with a sheer drop on, well, most sides!


At this same spot, we arrived and thought we had reached the top of the trail...but no....up there is where we go!


At the top! YAY!


The view from the top!


Couch Surfing in St George!
Our hosts, Chris and Shaunae (far right) are AWESOME!
We stayed with them the nights of Day 4 and Day 5!

Saturday- Back to Zion
Sunday- Bryce Canyon
Monday- Bryce, Capitol Reef and
Tuesday- Drive to Salt Lake, Brian flys out!

PS. Max from Vegas has joined out numbers! Max will stay with us until we leave Salt Lake!
PPS. John from Berkeley departed on day 3!

Day 4: Grand Canyon, AZ to St George, UT

Goodbye lovely Grand Canyon!

On the Open Road! The bananas got too cold, thanks to desert nights, and now they wont ripen....so we will make them ripen! Muwahaha!

The Grand Escalade National Monument Area...these bizarre rock formations are called toadstools....we like them!

And over yonder hill from the toadstools is this AMAZING view! 

'Owow!' as the French gals say!

Ending the day with shopping madness at Smith's, St George, UT. 

Our CS hosts for the night live in St George....tomorrow we head to Zion!