Captains Log
Day ?, 4/5/10. We stopped for a few days so I'm not sure if I should count this consecutively or not.
We got up nice and early to head out for Los Angeles today. We had a lovely time in Oregon. Paula got some delicious food, tried Disc Golf and loved it, played volleyball and watched home movies of me. My family loves her. Who wouldn't?!
7:15am: We say goodbye to my parents and head out for SoCal.
8:07am: CALIFORNIA! We just crossed the border though its about 11 more hours till SoCal. Our excitement is premature.
California stops everyone soon after you cross the border to ask if you have any fruit or plants in the car. They take this stuff seriously. One little bug or insect could ruin the crops. Paula is amazed and baffled by this. I thought for sure they would search our car because its so full but they took our word for it. We were telling the truth anyways!
Stopped for gas twice. Once was $17 at $3.35/gallon and the second was $10 at $3.09/gallon. We realize that $3 is about standard. Ouch.
I see and In N Out Burger at the second gas stop and lose my head. We can smell burgers and my mouth starts to water. Or drool. We decide to take an early lunch. Paula is a convert. $10.01. I could do without these bible verses though.
4pm: Stop again for gas. $15 at $3.28/gallon
5:41pm: We are passing a lot of livestock big rigs. As we get near one, Paula looks at me and asks "Is that a prison bus?" I look at her to see if she is joking around. That poor girl is serious. I laugh in her face and tell her its a horse prison. I'm so sympathetic. This joke still happens to date.
A few hours later we stop in Torrance for the night. Right as we arrive on the 405 in the South Bay, a Green Day song comes on the radio. And one of the famous lyrics is, "welcome to paradise." I can't believe how eerie that is.
We got a hotel and spent the next day looking at apartments. We found our apartment on day 1. We absolutely love living here and know we made the right move.
We are just a few minutes from the beach too! Its been a difficult journey and we're still getting settled but its all worth it. Every single time I see the smile on her face, I know I'd do it all again for her.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Land of the Beaver
Captains Log
Day 5, 4/2/10
We woke up today in our giant hotel room at a ridiculously early hour. I don't even think the sun was up yet. Our room, by the way, is HUGE. The price we paid for the room is about average. However the room is about the size of a nice apartment. Its awesome. The casino downstairs had a little cafe inside so that is the destination for our bellies this morning. We spent $17 and had the biggest breakfast I have ever seen!! It was yummy. While we were eating, the slot machines were taunting us. We went to go teach them a lesson but instead they stole $2 from us. Time to go now before we lose all our money.
8:32am: Leaving the hotel. Stopped for gas first. Spent $20 at 3.12 a gallon for super.
Somewhere between here and the next time stamp, Paula has discovered cruise control. She has been terrified of cruise control for forever but suddenly I see her using it. Technology has won this battle. She conceded.
10:13am: We have left the safety of I-80 for the backroads of Hwy 95. I'm scared.
Somewhere in here we got gas. In the middle of nowhere. We are driving down Hwy 95 and right as we change to Hwy 140 there is a gas station. Well, a gas pump. This place is a hotel, cafe, bar, general store and gas station. They have one gas pump, a phone booth and a motorcycle sculpture outside. There is nothing else around for miles. This is the kind of place that kills you in your sleep if you stay here. We git our gas and go.
12:32pm: OREGON!!!!
1:05pm: We realize that this Hwy is very windy and long and treacherous. Paula is driving. Suddenly we notice that we have been driving up and up and up. I see a sign for the downgrade ahead. This is basically straight down, in the snow, with no guardrail at 6200 feet. Paula is screaming. Its so exciting!! Paula does not seem as excited.
There is a TON of snow. We went through the Rocky mountains and there was not as much snow as now. It is basically a whiteout and we can't see anything. Thank god there is a truck in front of us so we can follow in their tire tracks. We are going about 9 miles an hour here. After we finally get through this ( I am driving now since Paula has refused after that mountain business) we drive down out of the mountains and to a stoplight. The truck in front of us rolls down their windows and gives us a thumbs up. We made it alive!!!
A little while later, we hit snow again. Ugh!! There is a large Bronco in front of us. Suddenly, they slow down and pull over. They seem ok, so we pass them. Right after we pass them, I see them pull back out and follow us. So let me get this straight...this giant Bronco wants this tiny Prius from New York to navigate the snow first. That makes perfect sense. Douche.
We see a ton of accidents in these mountains and that makes us feel lucky.
3:14pm: We are listening to a random collection of mix cds that bear no indication of what is on them. Its exciting. We jam out to "Its Raining Men." Times like these, we need our own reality show.
Stop for gas in Klamath Falls for $19.00 at $3.02 a gallon. My father thinks we won't be to their house for hours and hours. I tell him we will be there by 6:30pm. He doesn't believe me.
6:15pm: IT'S THE CLIMATE! We arrive in Grants Pass earlier than I thought. Take that daddy-o.
Now for some relaxation before we leave for L.A.
Total mileage for Day 5: 445 miles (One of the lowest mileage days but felt like the longest. Damn that snow)
Total Driving Time for Day 5: 10 hours
Total cost for Day 5: $58.
Day 5, 4/2/10
We woke up today in our giant hotel room at a ridiculously early hour. I don't even think the sun was up yet. Our room, by the way, is HUGE. The price we paid for the room is about average. However the room is about the size of a nice apartment. Its awesome. The casino downstairs had a little cafe inside so that is the destination for our bellies this morning. We spent $17 and had the biggest breakfast I have ever seen!! It was yummy. While we were eating, the slot machines were taunting us. We went to go teach them a lesson but instead they stole $2 from us. Time to go now before we lose all our money.
8:32am: Leaving the hotel. Stopped for gas first. Spent $20 at 3.12 a gallon for super.
Somewhere between here and the next time stamp, Paula has discovered cruise control. She has been terrified of cruise control for forever but suddenly I see her using it. Technology has won this battle. She conceded.
10:13am: We have left the safety of I-80 for the backroads of Hwy 95. I'm scared.
Somewhere in here we got gas. In the middle of nowhere. We are driving down Hwy 95 and right as we change to Hwy 140 there is a gas station. Well, a gas pump. This place is a hotel, cafe, bar, general store and gas station. They have one gas pump, a phone booth and a motorcycle sculpture outside. There is nothing else around for miles. This is the kind of place that kills you in your sleep if you stay here. We git our gas and go.
12:32pm: OREGON!!!!
1:05pm: We realize that this Hwy is very windy and long and treacherous. Paula is driving. Suddenly we notice that we have been driving up and up and up. I see a sign for the downgrade ahead. This is basically straight down, in the snow, with no guardrail at 6200 feet. Paula is screaming. Its so exciting!! Paula does not seem as excited.
There is a TON of snow. We went through the Rocky mountains and there was not as much snow as now. It is basically a whiteout and we can't see anything. Thank god there is a truck in front of us so we can follow in their tire tracks. We are going about 9 miles an hour here. After we finally get through this ( I am driving now since Paula has refused after that mountain business) we drive down out of the mountains and to a stoplight. The truck in front of us rolls down their windows and gives us a thumbs up. We made it alive!!!
A little while later, we hit snow again. Ugh!! There is a large Bronco in front of us. Suddenly, they slow down and pull over. They seem ok, so we pass them. Right after we pass them, I see them pull back out and follow us. So let me get this straight...this giant Bronco wants this tiny Prius from New York to navigate the snow first. That makes perfect sense. Douche.
We see a ton of accidents in these mountains and that makes us feel lucky.
3:14pm: We are listening to a random collection of mix cds that bear no indication of what is on them. Its exciting. We jam out to "Its Raining Men." Times like these, we need our own reality show.
Stop for gas in Klamath Falls for $19.00 at $3.02 a gallon. My father thinks we won't be to their house for hours and hours. I tell him we will be there by 6:30pm. He doesn't believe me.
6:15pm: IT'S THE CLIMATE! We arrive in Grants Pass earlier than I thought. Take that daddy-o.
Now for some relaxation before we leave for L.A.
Total mileage for Day 5: 445 miles (One of the lowest mileage days but felt like the longest. Damn that snow)
Total Driving Time for Day 5: 10 hours
Total cost for Day 5: $58.
Dance your cares away...
Captains Log
Day 4, 4/1/10
Started off earlier again. Everyday is earlier and earlier. These damn time changes are messing with our internal clocks. The Motel 6 we stopped at does not believe in Continental breakfast. Or bathtubs. There is a reason this room is so cheap. Their breakfast consisted of coffee and tea. That's it. Time for plan B.
8:51am: Leaving hotel. Need to stop for gas and breakfast. Filled up the tank for $21.00 at 2.73 a gallon. The forecast for today is cold and snowy. Awesome. Stopped for a cheap-o McDonald's breakfast in Laramie, Wyoming. We wanted to stop in Laramie to pay silent tribute to Matthew Shepard. He was a 21 year old kid who was tortured, beaten and murdered because he was gay. A tragedy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard
12:50pm: Stopped and got gas again. Spent $20.00 at $3.04 a gallon. Ouch. We also got to stop at Sonic because I've been dying for a red slush. I AM SO EXCITED!!!! $8.00
1:54pm: Discovered Paula had a secret mix cd of all songs sung by puppets. I am serious as a heart attack. We just had a jam session to "Down in Fraggle Rock." It was equally awesome and weird at the same time. Thank god we have each other.
2:30pm: Just saw a billboard for "Wyoming's ONLY female OB/GYN." WTF?! This has left me with so many questions.
2:33pm: HELLO UTAH!! Paula is on the lookout for punk kids as we drive through SLC.
4:00pm: Last stop for gasoline. This is the nicest gas station ever. There is a big screen TV in the bathroom. I get to watch the news after I pee. This must be what its like to be rich. Wow. $18.50 at $3.19/gallon for supreme. And we got Krispy Kreme donuts. mmmmmmm. $3.73.
5:30pm: Entering the land of prostitutes and money..aka Nevada.
5:40pm: TIME CHANGE!! We are now officially on Pacific Standard Time. It feels good to be home. It is now 4:40pm.
6:02pm: Stopped for the night in Elko, Nevada. We are staying at Stockman's Hotel and Casino. So awesome.
We went out to a nice dinner at this place called Machi's. The food was fantastical. I had the best mexican food I've had in years. Paula had fantastic spaghetti of some sort. Ended up being $51.73 with tips. That was entrees, dessert, appetizer, beer and tips. Not bad at all.
Then we gambled. We only did slot machines because we were scared and there were no roulette tables. We lost $30 but then made back $20. Yay!!
It is time for bed. Almost there!!
Total mileage for Day 4: 677 miles
Total Driving Time for Day 4: 10 hours (without the time change. With it, only 9)
Total cost for Day 4: $191.85
Day 4, 4/1/10
Started off earlier again. Everyday is earlier and earlier. These damn time changes are messing with our internal clocks. The Motel 6 we stopped at does not believe in Continental breakfast. Or bathtubs. There is a reason this room is so cheap. Their breakfast consisted of coffee and tea. That's it. Time for plan B.
8:51am: Leaving hotel. Need to stop for gas and breakfast. Filled up the tank for $21.00 at 2.73 a gallon. The forecast for today is cold and snowy. Awesome. Stopped for a cheap-o McDonald's breakfast in Laramie, Wyoming. We wanted to stop in Laramie to pay silent tribute to Matthew Shepard. He was a 21 year old kid who was tortured, beaten and murdered because he was gay. A tragedy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard
12:50pm: Stopped and got gas again. Spent $20.00 at $3.04 a gallon. Ouch. We also got to stop at Sonic because I've been dying for a red slush. I AM SO EXCITED!!!! $8.00
1:54pm: Discovered Paula had a secret mix cd of all songs sung by puppets. I am serious as a heart attack. We just had a jam session to "Down in Fraggle Rock." It was equally awesome and weird at the same time. Thank god we have each other.
2:30pm: Just saw a billboard for "Wyoming's ONLY female OB/GYN." WTF?! This has left me with so many questions.
2:33pm: HELLO UTAH!! Paula is on the lookout for punk kids as we drive through SLC.
4:00pm: Last stop for gasoline. This is the nicest gas station ever. There is a big screen TV in the bathroom. I get to watch the news after I pee. This must be what its like to be rich. Wow. $18.50 at $3.19/gallon for supreme. And we got Krispy Kreme donuts. mmmmmmm. $3.73.
5:30pm: Entering the land of prostitutes and money..aka Nevada.
5:40pm: TIME CHANGE!! We are now officially on Pacific Standard Time. It feels good to be home. It is now 4:40pm.
6:02pm: Stopped for the night in Elko, Nevada. We are staying at Stockman's Hotel and Casino. So awesome.
We went out to a nice dinner at this place called Machi's. The food was fantastical. I had the best mexican food I've had in years. Paula had fantastic spaghetti of some sort. Ended up being $51.73 with tips. That was entrees, dessert, appetizer, beer and tips. Not bad at all.
Then we gambled. We only did slot machines because we were scared and there were no roulette tables. We lost $30 but then made back $20. Yay!!
It is time for bed. Almost there!!
Total mileage for Day 4: 677 miles
Total Driving Time for Day 4: 10 hours (without the time change. With it, only 9)
Total cost for Day 4: $191.85
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Holy Crap!!
Captains Log
Day 3, 3/31/10
We're up even earlier today and head down for another delicious waffle breakfast. Mmmm. This one is delicious, though not as big of a spread as the night before. There was honestly, nothing left to steal for snacks later. We got our fill though and then got ready to head out.
9:02am: Leave the hotel and get some gas down the street. Gas was $2.71 for super unleaded and it cost us $16.00 to fill the tank.
9:57am: Oh my god! The stench of cow manure is so overwhelming that we thought we might vomit. Paula has never experienced this before.
12:32pm: We arrive in Nebraska!!
1:00pm: We stop at an Information Center to try and get a travel/hotel coupon book. They are out of them.
1:35pm: Stopped for gas in Lincoln, Nebraska. This is the capital city. Super unleaded was 2.65/gallon and it took $15 to fill. We later found out that the reason Super unleaded is cheaper than regular is because Nebraska is the corn state and Ethanol is made from corn. Super is full of Ethanol here.
We discovered two things about Nebraska while driving through. A) Nebraska has some good rock radio. B) Nebraska loves Joan Jett. Serious.
Oh, and the speed limit here is 75MPH!! This is awesome!!
3:46pm: Officially in Western Nebraska. I also realize this means we are only halfway through. Ugh!
4:30pm: We need gas again. We pull off in the middle of nowhere. Seriously. We pull off of I80 to this little Mom and Pop gas station/store with a Dairy Queen and that's all that is around for miles. There is one poor teenage boy running the gas station, general store and Dairy Queen. I told him he should get a raise. We get gas and blizzards. Gas is 3.09/gallon and we spend $20 to fill.
As we are pulling out of the gas station, we see a junkyard across the street. Or maybe just someone's yard who happens to be a hoarder. It looks like its got the normal junk of dead cars and refrigerators etc. Then we see it....a plane. A PLANE!! I make Paula stop so we can discuss this for a moment. As we get back on the interstate, we also see a giant boat in their side yard. Where the hell are we?!
5:10pm: TIME CHANGE! It is now 4:10pm and we are in Mountain Time. I hope this means TV goes back to normal.
4:47pm: I saw a camel. Though it may have been an Emu. Paula then points out that an Emu is a bird. So maybe it was a Llama. Whatever. I saw it.
We discovered that I80 is parallel to the original Oregon Trail. An entire discussion about how much that must have sucked to do with just a covered wagon and an ox ensues.
Saw a sign for Buffalo Bill's Ranch. Visions of Silence Of the Lambs danced in our heads and we decided against it.
We thought all of these cows we kept seeing were so cute. Paula had never seen so many cows. We especially loved seeing the baby cows. But the stench.....holy methane!
5:20pm: Our original destination to stop for the night was going to be Sydney, Nebraska. However, once we got there I refused to stop. I was afraid. I really think there may have been hill people. All I could think of was The Hills Have Eyes. We decided to keep going.
5:55pm: I played "air jug" to Devil Went Down To Georgia on the radio. Paula thought this was hilarious. I will mention that she played "air violin". Don't let her lie to you.
6:09pm: We arrive in Wyoming and are EXHAUSTED. We learn that Wyoming's motto is "Forever West" and their nickname is "The Equality State". Their nickname is BS. Ever hear of Mathew Sheppard? Look it up and tell me why the hell this is the equality state?
7:00pm: Checked into a Motel 6 in Cheyenne, $49. Staying in the capital city. We look up somewhere to get dinner and find this great steakhouse called Little Bear Inn. Its about 10 miles away. We freshen up and head over to the restaurant. The restaurant is out in the middle of the highway with nothing around. No other building, no lights, no anything. As we are walking up to the door of the restaurant, an older woman comes out and tells us they closed. I check the time to make sure we are there at a reasonable hour. She proceeds to tell us the following:
"The well ran out of water so we had to close early."
I'm sorry. What? Excuse me? Did you just say that you had to close your restaurant because THE WELL RAN OUT OF WATER?! WHERE ARE WE???? We walk back to the car and Paula bursts into laughter the second we get back in. She is dumbfounded that this actually happened. She tells everyone she can.
We end up going to Outback Steakhouse, which was recommended to us by the hotel clerk as a "great steakhouse." The waitress doesn't believe I am 21 and thinks my license is phony. She gives me beer anyways. Now, we have been driving for 11 hours. The original restaurant plan fell through. This jerkoff can't read a license and I'm pissed now. Paula keeps telling me to relax because the waitress is going to spit in all of my food.
Finally we get back to the hotel and pass out at 9:30pm. Never in my life have I fallen asleep so early.
Its been a long day.
Total mileage for Day 3: 745 miles
Total Driving Time for Day 3: 11 hours (without the time change. With it, only 10)
Total cost for Day 3: $108 approximately (We are not letting our gas go below 1/4 of a tank, just in case we don't see a gas station for awhile.)
Day 3, 3/31/10
We're up even earlier today and head down for another delicious waffle breakfast. Mmmm. This one is delicious, though not as big of a spread as the night before. There was honestly, nothing left to steal for snacks later. We got our fill though and then got ready to head out.
9:02am: Leave the hotel and get some gas down the street. Gas was $2.71 for super unleaded and it cost us $16.00 to fill the tank.
9:57am: Oh my god! The stench of cow manure is so overwhelming that we thought we might vomit. Paula has never experienced this before.
12:32pm: We arrive in Nebraska!!
1:00pm: We stop at an Information Center to try and get a travel/hotel coupon book. They are out of them.
1:35pm: Stopped for gas in Lincoln, Nebraska. This is the capital city. Super unleaded was 2.65/gallon and it took $15 to fill. We later found out that the reason Super unleaded is cheaper than regular is because Nebraska is the corn state and Ethanol is made from corn. Super is full of Ethanol here.
We discovered two things about Nebraska while driving through. A) Nebraska has some good rock radio. B) Nebraska loves Joan Jett. Serious.
Oh, and the speed limit here is 75MPH!! This is awesome!!
3:46pm: Officially in Western Nebraska. I also realize this means we are only halfway through. Ugh!
4:30pm: We need gas again. We pull off in the middle of nowhere. Seriously. We pull off of I80 to this little Mom and Pop gas station/store with a Dairy Queen and that's all that is around for miles. There is one poor teenage boy running the gas station, general store and Dairy Queen. I told him he should get a raise. We get gas and blizzards. Gas is 3.09/gallon and we spend $20 to fill.
As we are pulling out of the gas station, we see a junkyard across the street. Or maybe just someone's yard who happens to be a hoarder. It looks like its got the normal junk of dead cars and refrigerators etc. Then we see it....a plane. A PLANE!! I make Paula stop so we can discuss this for a moment. As we get back on the interstate, we also see a giant boat in their side yard. Where the hell are we?!
5:10pm: TIME CHANGE! It is now 4:10pm and we are in Mountain Time. I hope this means TV goes back to normal.
4:47pm: I saw a camel. Though it may have been an Emu. Paula then points out that an Emu is a bird. So maybe it was a Llama. Whatever. I saw it.
We discovered that I80 is parallel to the original Oregon Trail. An entire discussion about how much that must have sucked to do with just a covered wagon and an ox ensues.
Saw a sign for Buffalo Bill's Ranch. Visions of Silence Of the Lambs danced in our heads and we decided against it.
We thought all of these cows we kept seeing were so cute. Paula had never seen so many cows. We especially loved seeing the baby cows. But the stench.....holy methane!
5:20pm: Our original destination to stop for the night was going to be Sydney, Nebraska. However, once we got there I refused to stop. I was afraid. I really think there may have been hill people. All I could think of was The Hills Have Eyes. We decided to keep going.
5:55pm: I played "air jug" to Devil Went Down To Georgia on the radio. Paula thought this was hilarious. I will mention that she played "air violin". Don't let her lie to you.
6:09pm: We arrive in Wyoming and are EXHAUSTED. We learn that Wyoming's motto is "Forever West" and their nickname is "The Equality State". Their nickname is BS. Ever hear of Mathew Sheppard? Look it up and tell me why the hell this is the equality state?
7:00pm: Checked into a Motel 6 in Cheyenne, $49. Staying in the capital city. We look up somewhere to get dinner and find this great steakhouse called Little Bear Inn. Its about 10 miles away. We freshen up and head over to the restaurant. The restaurant is out in the middle of the highway with nothing around. No other building, no lights, no anything. As we are walking up to the door of the restaurant, an older woman comes out and tells us they closed. I check the time to make sure we are there at a reasonable hour. She proceeds to tell us the following:
"The well ran out of water so we had to close early."
I'm sorry. What? Excuse me? Did you just say that you had to close your restaurant because THE WELL RAN OUT OF WATER?! WHERE ARE WE???? We walk back to the car and Paula bursts into laughter the second we get back in. She is dumbfounded that this actually happened. She tells everyone she can.
We end up going to Outback Steakhouse, which was recommended to us by the hotel clerk as a "great steakhouse." The waitress doesn't believe I am 21 and thinks my license is phony. She gives me beer anyways. Now, we have been driving for 11 hours. The original restaurant plan fell through. This jerkoff can't read a license and I'm pissed now. Paula keeps telling me to relax because the waitress is going to spit in all of my food.
Finally we get back to the hotel and pass out at 9:30pm. Never in my life have I fallen asleep so early.
Its been a long day.
Total mileage for Day 3: 745 miles
Total Driving Time for Day 3: 11 hours (without the time change. With it, only 10)
Total cost for Day 3: $108 approximately (We are not letting our gas go below 1/4 of a tank, just in case we don't see a gas station for awhile.)
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