Road Trip Through America (Final)

having tea with Kristen

Since I still had a couple days left in Colorado, I went up to visit a friend in Boulder.  I had never been to Boulder before, and after experiencing it once, I don't think I ever need to go back (sorry, Kristen!).  In addition to creepy guys, sketchy people, and constant solicitations, I also received a ticket on my car for parking in the wrong lot.  (Thankfully I was able to contest it and didn't have to pay.)  But in spite of all that, Kristen and I had lunch at an Eastern Tea House called "Dushanbe."  With lots of menu options, the tea and meal (plus dessert!) were a great way to catch up on life.  We sat next to a coy pond and enjoyed the ambiance.

with Joey at Grand Lake

The next day I left Denver for good and headed up the mountains to Grand Lake, Colorado, to see my friend Joey for a couple days.  Joey and I were in "The Music Man" together back in 2008 at APU, but this time I got to watch him perform in "Anything Goes" and "The Drowsy Chaperone" with the Repertory Theatre there.  His family has a beautiful cabin on the lake, so we mostly walked around and enjoyed the fresh air.

After the town's Rotary Pancake Breakfast, I said farewell to Joey and Grand Lake, and hit the road again.  It was a long day of driving before I finally reached Salt Lake City (well...technically, Cottonwood Heights, UT).  My friend Ben used to work in the Alumni House at APU, and upon graduating had moved to Utah to be close to his sister Bri and brother-in-law Josh.  It was actually Bri and Josh who welcomed me into their home for a couple days, fed me, and took me on a really difficult hike up Mt. Aire.  First of all, it was raining, which meant the trail was muddy.  Second, it was really steep, climbing 1820 feet in just 2 miles.  The starting elevation was 7840 feet, and by the time we got to the top a couple hours later, we were at 8620 feet.  But the view was breathtaking and totally worth it!  We rested at the top for a while before trekking down, which was much more fun than going up.  After that experience, the first thing I did upon my return to Fresno was by a CamelBak for future hiking adventures!

Mt. Aire in Utah

The last stop on my trip was Reno, Nevada, where I stayed with a wonderful couple named Paul and Tiffany.  Paul is the brother of my parent's neighbor, but I had never met him before.  They took me in for the night to break up my journey from Salt Lake City to Reedley.  They've only been in Reno for a year, but already they have a chicken coop with hens, turkeys, beehives, and the foundation for a garden.  They like to eat fresh food too, so we had a lot to talk about and it was the perfect conclusion to my summer road trip through America.

When I finally made it home to my parent's house in Reedley, I had driven through 8 states, stayed in 5 of them, and put nearly 4,000 miles on my car.  I had a lot of time to think and pray, processing through the events of my life thus far in 2012 and planning the rest of the year out in my head.  I listened to music, had amazing phone conversations with friends, and simply enjoyed experiencing new parts of the country.  I saw lots of friends and family over the 2 months I was on my trip, and I can't wait to hit the road again.  Although, I may take someone with me next time!

"On the road again, I can't wait to get on the road again, seein' things that I may never see again..."

Denver, CO to Grand Lake, CO = 106 miles
Grand Lake, CO to Cottonwood Heights, UT = 468 miles
Cottonwood Heights, UT to Reno, NV = 530 miles
Reno, NV to Reedley, CA = 322 miles