Hot Dam!

We loaded our tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, whiskey, boats, guns, mess kits and a mess of other gear into the back of the trucks. Passing Monterey where the desert meets the ocean and I can’t help but wonder if Nature is just toying with me, laughing at the conundrum I laid my eyes upon. But California often does that- that is, it blows your mind with its geologic scenery [if you haven’t been to Yosemite I strongly suggest you at least drive through it. Or Tahoe. Or drive down highway one and stop along any number of beautiful beaches. Or a million places Just go to Cali!]. I wondered what lay in store at Los Padres Dam (northeast of Big Sur).

We arrived and parked, stepping out into a dry dusty lot somewhere in the mountains. The hike lagged as we dragged the boat-loads (literally) up and down the hills of the acrid trail. Just when I began to feel impatient climbing the last hill, a large dam appeared before me. Hot Dam! Swimming was in order. I love that feeling- it’s one of my all-time favorites- of jumping into cool water after physical work- it’s so dam satisfying! After chillen for a minute it was time to pack the boats and start rowing. The gear boat broke, along with 2 of the oars so getting across a couple of miles of water was quite an ordeal. Luckily I was on the first shipment and escaped any extra duty. The open water led to a valley-like setting, with rock mountain on both sides up a meandering path of shallow water. I was dropped off inland on a small patch of sand. While waiting for everyone to gather, a group of tattooed Mexican ex-gangsters from Salinas paddled up in kayaks (mind you we are miles in). At first I felt a bit alarmed, especially when one of them whipped out a shot gun (that definitely didn’t feel right). But they ended up being alright- fairly polite, just wanting a place to drink beers and get away from their wives, all happy as a clam. Of coarse Sandra chimes in with some 2PAC “Shit, tired of gettin shot at Tired of gettin chased by the police and arrested Niggaz need a spot where WE can kick it A spot where WE belong, that's just for us” [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kExHaBkEYi8 ]. They loved it. We’re all laughin and smoking pot together by the end.

The journey inward was a combination of passing through flowing streams and hiking along the mountain ridges that seemed to endlessly ascend. Backpacking is really a love-hate relationship at this point, because although the view is breath-taking, it’s literally taking your breath away and you really don’t want to keep moving, tapping into your reserves with every step. Then you reach camp and realize you have conquered the world. We set up camp, sipped on whiskey, snuggled with Whiskey Dog, and passed the fuck out.

Day 2 was the mutha-fuckn shizzznit- hiking around with no packs, just a bathing suit and some water-shoes. It was more like frolicking, really. It was time to whip out the big guns- my bicepts of course. Just kidding, but we did have a few guns and a bow-and-arrow, along with a few other toys. Lucky for me both the rocks and the trees were inviting for amateur climbers, so I had at it (even though normally I barely make it up the stairs hah). We spent a solid hour throwing stones at a rotting log. It was so good. While we swam in the stream the boys caught a crayfish and cooked it. Mr Crawdad’s flavor was like gamey lobster crossed with shrimp. The mini-adventure tasted delicious. At night we huddled around the camp fire and had a feast (in attempt to get rid of as much food as possible so we wouldn’t have to hike it back). Once again I kept myself warm with the Whiskeys- sippin and snugglin, sippin and snugglin, wishin we had more time. I think that night I must have dreamt of that day, a sweet escape from reality.

The next day was all business- pack up and let’s get the fuck outta dodge. The back-track always has a weird feeling, re-crossing a path that was such a mystery the day before, headed back to civilization. It is bitter-sweet, until you finally make it outta there and hit up the first burger or pizza joint you see, then it’s just greasy goodness. It’s funny how that works- getting away is great, but it makes coming home to a comfy bed and computer all the more endearing.


Mood: JJ Grey and Mofro- "Lazy Fo Acre" -but unfortunately i can't find a link for that.
i guess this fits- The Band "Up On Cripple Creek" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EisXJSsULGM

Outside Lands Music Festival '11

60,000 hipsters and hippies gathered in San Francisco for a 3-day music festival at Golden Gate Park. It was unlike my typical picture of a festival- mainly because no one could camp at the park and it was cold (damnit sanfran, you’re always so chilly!). This made for a very different experience- there weren’t even wristbands! None-the-less there were mounds of heads hoping to see an array of kick-ass shows.

Phish was phucking phenomenal. John Fogerty played a CCR setlist, had fun and killed it on stage (how old is that guy? So ancient and still rockin. He killed it when I saw him at Bonnaroo last year, too.). I realized that I liked a lot of Muse songs separately, some were alright, the show was extremely energetic &awesome but as a whole it was so dramatic and somewhat repetitive. Speaking of repetitive- Deadmau5. I was dancing rave status but the sick beats were few, far between, and the same one every time. He builds it up for so long, drops a sick beat for like a minute, then drops it down again into lag. I like the mouse head he wore, and he used a microphone to make his voice female (I don’t know what those machines are called. The show was a little confusing for a 1^st timer). A band called the Infamous String Dusters came outta nowhere and had everyone dancing to some high-energy bluegrass. Who else did I see? Black Keys were sick, MGMT, STS9, and a few other fun shows..but don't listen to my opinion in music, everyone's got their own taste.

  

I feel like I would have a better story for the festy but my personal experience of Outside Lands is dampened by the fact that I felt ill (lymin’) and couldn’t party very much. I was just happy to listen to live music. My friends, however, party like fuckin Rockstars and I still do not know why we didn’t get kicked out of the hotel. We destroyed that place, raging all hours of the night.

Phish "Steam" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHhqyXx5wz0
Creedence Clearwater Revival "Fortunate Son" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec0XKhAHR5I
on a somewhat related/not related note: The Section Quartet covering Muse's Time is Running Out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRUTf-EsaTY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM8zMjvOp5s&ob=av2n

crazy sandiegans

Just got back from San Diego.. it's crazy down there. Don't get me wrong, I like (maybe even love) crazy from time to time but daaang.. It is party central down there. Every night and even in the daytime there are parties or bumpin clubs. My first night down I was greeted with a party bus which brought me downtown to nightclub Fluxx. Most of the nightclubs are filled with E heads, House music, and hott people everywhere (for my personal preference wayy too maintained it was kinda unattractive. peeps were obsessed with appearance). The slopes down there will freeze your face off, so I've been told. I felt like everyone should just have a binky in their mouth and turn the city into a rave. Bouncers literally check your eyes to see if your pupils are dilated.
            The weather is probably the best in the country and the beaches are absolutely beautiful. There's great surf if you can man up. The people are super friendly but be careful, they're flaky (not everyone obv.. I had good& bad experiences). They'll walk into your house without knowing you and grab a beer from your fridge. As east coasters we were like, 'and who the fuck are you?'. They didn't think it was weird at all. It kinda felt like a free-for-all and people were just grabbing whatever they felt entitled to. Almost everyone recognized me and my friends as Boston girls (because of our sass mouths, go figure). A cool thing about them was they were all pretty social and I did not see many awkward people. To match the locals I bought a brightly colored pair of wayfarer sunglasses and wore them in the sun. and in the shade. and in the nightclub. and really never took them off. You know, when in Rome..I was stoked on it for suuure.(also LMFAOs Party Rock Anthem def grew on me while I was there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ6zr6kCPj8&ob=av2e )
          The trip was great for me because I got to reunite with my best friends, and we always tear it up. I love them so much!
          Sooo.. if you're young and want to have a crazy time in the sun, San Diego is great. yup.

santa cruz v nyc

hmm stay in santa cruz/ west coast for school? or go home and start in the fall
santa cruz...
pros-
has the best bud
good weather
the beach
the mountains
liberal

cons-
liberal
has way too much dubstep
has way too many hippie hobos
and not enough pizza.

NYC
pros-
close to home/ family
city life
people are motivated
pizza yummy

cons-
too busy
rent$
gettin flipped the bird

hmmm what to do what to do..