Seattle!

The U-Dog and I decided to go on a little road trip to visit my friend Rob in Seattle, who will be leaving for Australia in a few months to spend the next 3 years in Adelaide with his lovely wife Jen (who is currently doing research for the hospital). We left town around 6:00 a.m. on 11/07/08 in a rented Nissan Altima with a full tank of gas and a half-pack of cigarettes. We arrived in Seattle 13 hours later. We got to see Rob's place of work, most of Seattle's waterfront and an amazing library. I am also proud to say I was able to fulfill every right thinking American's dream; I drank a chai latte at a Seattle coffee house on a rainy morning (I know your jealous). As you can see by the following pictures, the trip was dominated by Washington State Ferry system. On Saturday we took a ferry to Bremerton and had lunch while on Sunday we took a ferry to Bainbridge and then drove to Port Angeles. On Monday we fought our way through the Portland commute to make it back to Sacramento 13 hours later. Other than the tragic and utterly unbelievable fact that we could not get a cup of coffee in Seattle at 6:00 a.m. on a Monday morning, the trip was a tremendous success. And I would go camping with Les Stroud any day of the week.

First stop, Taco Bell in Yreka.

Cherry Slurpee from Canyonville, OR. This scene would repeat itself over the next 3 hours.

Ferry ride to Bainbridge Island.

Each ferry received and armed escort from 2 coast guard watercraft across the Sound.

The outdoor art park in Port Angeles.

Moving ship, dark, no tripod...

Jimmy!

The long drive home.

Chalk It Up 2008!

This post is a little late, but we do what we can. "Chalk It Up" to place again over the Labor Day Weekend, and once again, I hate people with talent. I think I said this in last years post, but it is amazing what someone can do with some chalk and a little pavement. It was not quite as impressive as last year, but it is so much better than it was in previous years when it was turning into nothing more than a temporary advertisement for local businesses. You still see a little bit of that, but the "art" part has taken center stage again. Enjoy.

2 days later.

Click HERE to enjoy more amazing pictures of the event.

Two Suns

Bathroom at Cafe Trieste, North Beach, S.F. Highly recommended if you

get the chance. The coffee shop, not the bathroom. Coppola wrote some
of The Godfather here. Again, the coffee shop, not the bathroom.

View from my apartment, compliments of the forest fires.

Hotdogs forthe Homeless 08'

Yesterday was the 2nd annual "Hotdogs for Homeless" event @ North B and Ahern in downtown Sacramento. Plenty of hotdogs, clothes & gift bags were given out. Thanks to all those who participated. For more information, link here to Socks & Gloves.

For photos of the event, click here.

Sierra Buttes!

On Saturday Danny took me hiking to the Sierra Buttes, which is located about 30 miles north of Truckee, near Sierra City. The hike up just about killed me. I'd like to think it was the altitude and incline that were responsible and not the fact that I am tremendously out of shape. But I think all three may have played a factor. The trail head starts at 7,000 feet and rises to about 8,600 feet in less than three miles. On the way up I had to convince myself that I was merely going on 16 hikes of 100 feet each. It took about 2 hours to hike up and some mild hyperventilating, but it was worth it. Amazing views, beautiful weather, and great sandwiches (samiches). If you have the means I highly recommend it. Thanks to Danny for the invite!

Click here to view the Awesomeness.

4th of July in San Francisco