Archive for May, 2012

He Pimped His Ride

// May 31st, 2012 // 2 Comments » // America

After a few beautiful days spent exploring San Francisco, biking the Golden Gate Bridge, and hanging out with friends, Stella and I were on the road again (via Highway 1) to Los Angeles. It was a nice sunny day, we made a few stops along the coast to enjoy the views, and were closing in on LA when we got a little surprise on the freeway. Just as we got just past Santa Barbara, we came upon this sight. I’m not even sure how to describe it; Stella and I both did a double-take. ‘Oh my, what is on that car?’ I guess you could call it a piece of art on wheels. Skeletons, baby dolls, and miscellaneous junk adorned the back of this early 90′s hatchback. We stayed alongside this car for a few miles and each time we looked, there was something new to discover.  The blue goo you see at the very top- what is that? And what’s all of the filler between the masks and skeletons on the back? It’s a bit of a mystery, and I just wish we could have seen this car parked to examine it more closely. This is officially the weirdest car I’ve ever seen. (more…)

The Time I Ate Bull’s Balls in Bend

// May 30th, 2012 // 7 Comments » // America

Rocky Mountain Oysters

Yes, you read that correctly. I have eaten bull’s balls. As my friend and I kayaked on Devils Lake, we landed on the topic of the weirdest foods we’ve ever eaten. My list consisted of eating ostrich in Kenya, cow’s tongue in Botswana, and a grasshopper in Thailand. I mentioned that I had really wanted to try Rocky Mountain Oysters on this road trip (aka bull’s balls), but Stella and I never found them in Texas. I hoped to find them once I reached Colorado. My friend then mentioned that there was a restaurant in Bend that served them. What??!!! I nearly tipped the kayak in excitement. And, he had never had them either. Sold! After we packed up the kayak we headed back to town for a feast. Okay, maybe not a feast, but for a bull’s balls tasting at Tumalo Feed Co.. We ordered them, and to my delight they came greasy and deep-fried (meaning they were bound to have some flavor to cover the real taste). (more…)

Kayaking in Bend

// May 29th, 2012 // 4 Comments » // America

Once in Bend, the first things we did was go for a walk at one of the beautiful parks nearby. My friend rattled off a list of options to do while in Bend and it just so happened that he owns a kayak. I kayaked in Ha Long Bay, but I’m afraid that’s about the extent of my kayak experience so I was eager to do it again. (more…)

The Drive to Bend

// May 28th, 2012 // 3 Comments » // America

After Portland, my plan was to stop in Utah to see an old friend from high school and then drive on to Colorado. However, the beautiful thing about travel is that you meet people along the way and those people make for a good excuse to take a detour and visit a new place. Stella and I met someone who was taking a cross-country road trip on his motorcycle and several of our stops overlapped. He was from Bend, Oregon and invited me to visit on my drive back East. I didn’t know anything about Bend. I had no idea that the place, though pretty much isolated with no neighboring cities, is absolutely jaw-droppingly beautiful. Lakes and mountains lie just outside of town and it offers year-round activities for lovers of the outdoors. (more…)

Portland: Running, Beer, and Even Vineyards

// May 27th, 2012 // 4 Comments » // America

Aside from lounging around in sweatpants and watching Sex & the City (because, after all, it’s our favorite pastime), Emily and I did manage to do some other exciting things in Portland. Since this was my fourth visit to Portland, it was less about hitting the must-see’s of the city and more about doing things that we love. So, we did just that. (more…)

San Francisco to Portland

// May 24th, 2012 // 6 Comments » // America

Arriving at Artesa

Emily and I planned to visit northern California’s wine country and then camp on our way up to Portland. We did stop in Sonoma and Napa but the weather was bad so we skipped camping. (more…)

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