Time in Cali and THEN the WHOLE Drive Back to NYC...

 Quality Time in Cali and Then the Drive Back to NYC ...

I really tried to document the drive back but for some reason (maybe it's the south) the wifi connection would not allow for photos to download onto my drive so that I could access them on my laptop. 

So, we made it back home in Queens on Friday, Aug 23rd. I needed to konk out, clean and grocery shop (in that order) so that I could fulfill my destiny and continue the blog. 

This is going to be a long one, so grab a bev of choice and enjoy the ride. 

In Cali, Sky's best friend flew in a couple days after we arrived at my parent's place. They've been bffs since middle school and she's just an awesome human being. It was her first time in Cali so we had to show her a good time. 

We spent time near San Diego with my sister/friend, Fay and her fam. We had such a special time catching up almost as if no time had passed. 

Fay and Sean have this amazing skate shop called Rose Street in Encinitas! I remember when it was an idea and watching them grow and cultivate community through skate has been very inspiring. I love how they support each other's creativity and passions. 

Rose Street Skate Shop in Encinitas, CA- Check it!

                 

Got to see my oldest friend (our moms were friends before we were born) and her son who happened to be in town for a short time. 

Then it was cousin time. Though we couldn't get everyone because our clan live all around the globe, there was a point when we were kids that we lived in the same area and spent much of our childhood in each other's lives. We'll always have that to bond us. 

Suki and Salem were spoiled by my parents and brother. My aunt even sent over clothes for them (I don't believe in it but look how cute, I mean...) 

Chosen Family Right Here and my brother from the same mother, Arthur. 

So glad I got to see Jamie, who I usually see with Fay. Looking forward to a ladies hike on the next trip. 

Then it was time to start the epic drive back to NYC... 

We drove Sky's friend to the airport and then the next day was spent preparing for our drive back to the east coast. If you're ever seriously thinking about doing a long drive, listen to your parents who insist on getting your vehicle completely checked out before going back. I got a full oil change, tire rotation and liquids topped off and my car is less than a year old. Wish I had a hybrid car, but I did my best to be fuel efficient. 

Our first stop was Sedona, Arizona. I'd been there before but the place is so beautiful that I don't think I'd ever get tired of seeing it. 

We could see rain in the distance and sure enough when we arrived at the place we were going to stay for the night. The ground was completely wet. The sun was out and drying it up. Steam was coming up from the ground. SO COOL...

Pups were like, "Here we go again..." Salem missed my folks and brother and sulked the first couple of days. Suki lives in the moment. 

After one night, we were off to Taos, NM. I was inspired to visit Taos after watching "Awakening in Taos: The Mabel Dodge Luhan Story" on PBS- here's the link and I believe it's still available on Amazon Prime. 

Link to PBS documentary.

We stayed at a place that looks and feels like a serenity lodge. Unfortunately, we arrived on a Sunday and almost everything I wanted to see was closed. Taos is known as a haven for art and artists. I wanted to check out the home of Mabel Dodge Luhan that is now a b&b and museum. I have to go back one day and spend more time there. Anyone else in? 

This field of grass at the hotel/resort leads to the back where there is a giant statue of an elk. It was wow.

The next leg of our journey to Wichita, Kansas was long and a little bit scary for me. Google maps took me along side country roads where I didn't see a single car on my side of the road for at least 200 miles. Like, I'm glad I didn't have to use the bathroom and had filled up on gas and snacks ahead of time. 

We didn't get a chance to really get around because it was a 8-9 hour drive. My impression of Wichita is that people are  very friendly and I love that, at this park, every evening at 9pm, they hold a Ring of Fire ceremony. We missed it but visited the park. 

You're going to start noticing that I have fewer pictures. As the time zones changed, and we were getting closer to home, I had a hard time falling asleep. 

After Wichita, we headed to St. Louis, Missouri. We stayed in the downtown area/financial district near the arch. There's been a lot of construction, so entire high rises were empty. 

Our next stop was Columbus, Ohio. 

Not gonna lie, by the time we got to Columbus, I was pretty tired from driving and not having enough sleep. We went out to get food and that's about all we could muster. Sooo... I swiped this picture off the interwebs so you can see how Columbus looks. I wanted to check out their green spaces, which it's known for, but sorry, not sorry... I promised myself it's a place to visit next time. 

Here we are chillin in the hotel.

Before making it back home, we drove to Philly, Pennsylvania for a night. I dropped the kids off at the hotel after checking in and took a little drive by myself into the city center. I didn't take pictures but noted something familiar. Driving in Philly is much like driving in Manhattan. If you know, you know. You need next level alertness because some fools drive on the shoulder at full speed. 

This is us crossing over the Verrazano. We're home!!! We made it to the west coast and back safely. There were a few moments on the road that made me tense; I saw a couple of really bad crashes with big rigs (hope everyone is ok); I said a little blessing for each furry critter I saw victimized and left on the road (I lost count after 54); and I did a whole lot of cheeseball reflecting on how life is like a highway. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. Cars with drivers that kind of stayed in a formation were a lot safer and kept each other going at a safe pace. Speed demons were often isolated and may have gotten to their destination safely but the opposite could've happened too. 

Thanks for following! I met a few people along the way who said they've always wanted to drive cross country. Once you do it, you won't want to do it again- haha! I'm happy to share any tips and things if you're serious about it. 

Friends, I can't wait to hear about your summer adventures! Let's grab lunch, dinner, whatever and catch up!