Day 19: Rohnert Park to Atascadero

Quote of the Day: "Bonfire, like BOND fire. Like be with your friends. BOND. bon bon what does that even mean? bon bon like a marshmallow BON"

At the Gates to Berkeley

In Cal's Main Field

Our Little Golden Bear

Haley working her Girl Scout Magic

Cal Poly SLO Guy Actually Lighting the First Fire (before it burned out)



Yay Fire!

         Our trip has been a culmination of sightseeing and challenging drives, but the conversations within our own group and with strangers has added flavor to an already complex vacation. The events of our night in Rohnert Park at the comparatively luxurious Good Nite Inn were unexpected and enlightening. While in the Jacuzzi with Christina and Katherine, we learned from an ex-navy seal how to make a bomb with chlorine tablets and soda bottles and to never stop pursuing our dreams. While I took his words of wisdom with a grain of salt, it was lovely to hear how the hotel resident attempted to protect a victimized woman and how he ended up in a lawsuit with the navy officials. It was interesting to say the least and in comparison to our midnight event, much more intriguing. We spent the later part of the night learning about life in San Diego from the football players who were also staying in the hotel. Parents: don’t worry; it was so boring we went to sleep early. Anyway, our experience in Rohnert Park turned out not to be a day out on the vineyard, but instead, a girls night out (well, at Burger King, Starbucks, the pool, and in the room). 

Our drive out of Rohnert Park consisted of just another decision-making process that led us to a place that will soon be very special to me. Although the night before we had discussed visiting Hearst Castle and San Francisco, Katherine and Christina suggested we visit Berkeley. I rapidly accepted the idea and soon enough we were searching for parking around the university campus. The girls screeched with excitement as we walked toward the parking lot! As we walked through Telegraph (the popular boulevard) with our ice cream sandwiches, I felt proud to be a Bear and ready to be a student. We continued to walk through the campus and ended up in an area in which I had no sense of direction. Although we had imagined ourselves returning to the car within five minutes, our adventure through campus soon turned into a complete maze through the city. I’m glad I got lost in Berkeley with the girls. I feel lucky to have friends who were willing to venture through my future home. Christina reminded me that there was no harm in roaming around so when we ended up back at the car I felt a bit relieved and accomplished.  In contemplating two great attractions, we ended up at Berkeley instead but it turned out to be a beautiful day.

As I drove us toward Atascadero, we our thoughtful conversations. Not late after, we arrived at my Uncle Frank’s house where his two dogs warmly greeted us on the driveway. We headed off to dinner at Avila Beach, located close to Cal Poly SLO. The delicious dinner was followed by a bonfire with the girls. While Haley and Katherine reserved a pit, Christina and I went in search of a local grocery store. The nearest one was in Shell Beach and it wasn’t even a grocery store! Graham Crackers were $5 and there was no lighter fluid! We substituted the crackers with chips ohoy (so good that I would do it again) and borrowed lighter fluid from the neighboring pit on the beach. After begging for help from numerous people (flashback to the 11^th power Malibu adventure), we actually ended up taking over a pit given to us by a very kind family who was ready to leave. Their roaring fire kept us at the pit until midnight as we reflected on the ups and downs our trip. We had my uncle super worried and I felt terrible, but we arrived home safe and were greeted by ice cream this time. It’s an early morning tomorrow. We start our day with rock climbing in SLO, hopefully a stop by the Madonna Inn, and then back home!

Best:

• Ice cream at Cal/ seeing Cal with Estrella
• Great dinner with Frank on the beach
• Huge bonfire
• Bonfire reflection

Worst:

• Last night together
• Continental breakfast (once again)

Day 18. Eureka to Rohnert Park

Quote of the Day: " I'm old, fat, and sassy, so I ask you again: how are you? Short, cute, and beautiful?!"

fda

Humboldt Redwoods: Avenue of the Giants

Inside of a Redwood

Estrella in front of the "Giant Tree"

Christina before a Chopped Redwood

The "Flat Iron" Redwood

Katherine in the Forest

Haley and a Redwood carved into a Panada

Confusion Hill's Large Shoe

Playing around at Confusion Hill

               Due to the lack of internet connection in our hotel room, I am writing our blog/eavesdropping on a couple meeting with their wedding planner in a Rohnert Park Starbucks, acting like a wifi gypsy.  After a terrible night’s sleep (partially due to a consistent fear that Haley might wake up in the middle of the night and step on my face), Estrella and I grabbed breakfast for the group. We really were quite eager to leave Eureka, I mean Katherine was under the impression that a bomb went off in the middle of the night because of all of the noise. We knew that our only goal of the day would be to see the redwoods in all of their majesty.

                We decided to travel down the Avenue of Giants, a scenic alternative to the 101. At first the redwoods were not that impressive, but as we drove deeper into the abyss of the forest we began to appreciate the trees. We stopped at a tree called the Immortal tree because it had been struck by lightning, survived forest fires, and escaped the logging efforts in the area. The strong, persevering tree really put things into perspective; its height and overwhelming presence placed a sort of serene quilt of happiness over the group. The forest proves to be an excellent place to reflect and I think that we all gained some insight when we took 5 minutes to sit alone in the depths of forest. It is really interesting to see nature’s positive effect on people. At around 12 we parked the car and took a short hike to see the “Giant Tree” and the “Flat Iron Tree,” both of which lived up to their names.  We continued on to complete the 32 miles of the Avenue of Giants with a restful peace with Jack Johnson singing softly in the background.

                We left the Avenue of Giants in search of a place from Estrella’s childhood memories, a place where the water runs upstream (yes it sounded really odd when Estrella told us about it at first). The GPS had a little bit of chaos with finding Confusion Hill as it lead us in circles around the interstate “Head onto 101 N, make a legal U-turn, head onto 101 S, make a legal U-turn, head onto 101 N” and so on. We finally found the Hill and ate while we explored. It was somewhat fun, definitely built for little kids. For example, there was a large planter box full of rocks with the instruction to build a pile—not really interesting or fun in my eyes but hey maybe if you are 4 you could appreciate it.

                We drove through beautiful wine country, past vineyards and fresh-fruit stands. Haha I felt like I was in Parent Trap when Lindsay Lohan drove to her home in Napa Valley. Rohnert Park is only a few miles from Santa Rosa and we arrived at our hotel at around 5. Not soon after we had unloaded our car a charter bus full of football players pulled up. I’m just going to be honest and say that our night turned a lot more giggly and fun after we saw them. Estrella and Katherine had a nice dip in the pool while Haley and I drove around town. Overall it was a very satisfying day, but we are so eager to get home soon!

Best:

• Redwood trees
• Vineyards
• Football players
• Friendly forest people
• Nice hotel

Worst:

• Expensive gas (no more cheap Oregon gas)
• No hotel wifi
• Nothing to do in Rohnert Park because we can't drink wine