what a week!
In one week I drove about 2,500 miles up and down California.
I had a social work exam in Eureka on Jan 9th, so I decided to leave a few days early and head to Santa Cruz. I took Nolan with me, and I never thought that Nolan and I would once again be heading to Santa Cruz together considering the history between us and with the drama that took place in that town. It was kinda weird to be on a road trip with a guy that you dated for almost four years, and going to the places you used to go to when we were together. But it has been five years since we broke up, and even though I know that Nolan is still the same person I once dated it almost seems like it was all a different lifetime.
So Nolan and I continued North and we ended up in Humboldt the night before my exam. The next day was the exam and it was by far the most difficult exam/interview I have yet taken. The test took about 3.5 hours and it was all essay format. I felt so drained afterwards. The next day I headed east through Trinity and Shasta and ended up in Redding. Trinity Highway is by far one of the most beautiful roads I have ever been on, I stopped in Weaverville and Whiskey Town and explored the small mountain communities. I always wonder what it would be like to live in a rural mountain town.
I continued driving and ended up in Sacramento where I stayed with a friend, the next day I headed back on the road and returned to Bakersfield.
On the 16th I decided to head south to San Diego to visit my brother and go to the Slab City Talent Show. When I got to San Diego we ate at Lucha Libre Taqueria which had the most amazing burritos and very colorful decor-it was all Mexican wrestling themed. The next day we gathered our camping gear and headed East to the Imperial Valley to get to Slab City which is near Niland, Ca in the desert.
Slab City is well-known by the transient population. It is the place for people who have no where else to go. Many people live in permanent trailers or campers, some are permanent tent campers, and some just come for the winter season.
Slab City claim to fame is Salvation Mountain which is a man-made mountain made from adobe. It is very colorful and the creator is more than eager to show you his creation. The mountain has a huge cross on the top and has bible versus throughout.
Slab City and Salvation Mountain were both in the movie "Into the Wild" since it is one of the places the protagonist went to on his journey.
At the talent show, I managed to make friends with a musician who like my brother was there for the day to perform. He had an awesome singing voice and he and my brother jammed all night with the local residents. The next morning, Julian, met me at my campsite and asked if I would accompany him to the mineral hot springs and that he would take me back to San Diego (he is also from SD). I figured that getting kidnapped by a stranger in Slab City would be a great adventure so off I went into the desert with Julian in his convertible car.
We spent the day at the "Fountain of Youth Hot Springs" were Julian serenaded me and I worked on my tan. We then headed back to San Diego into the sunset, and I kept on thinking of movie-like this whole experience is. Here I am with a guy I just met in Slab City, riding in a convertible, driving into the sunset. I arrived safely to my brother's house and Julian and I said our goodbyes, we exchanged phone numbers, but I don't think I will see him again because I'd rather it be left as a memory.
I had a social work exam in Eureka on Jan 9th, so I decided to leave a few days early and head to Santa Cruz. I took Nolan with me, and I never thought that Nolan and I would once again be heading to Santa Cruz together considering the history between us and with the drama that took place in that town. It was kinda weird to be on a road trip with a guy that you dated for almost four years, and going to the places you used to go to when we were together. But it has been five years since we broke up, and even though I know that Nolan is still the same person I once dated it almost seems like it was all a different lifetime.
So Nolan and I continued North and we ended up in Humboldt the night before my exam. The next day was the exam and it was by far the most difficult exam/interview I have yet taken. The test took about 3.5 hours and it was all essay format. I felt so drained afterwards. The next day I headed east through Trinity and Shasta and ended up in Redding. Trinity Highway is by far one of the most beautiful roads I have ever been on, I stopped in Weaverville and Whiskey Town and explored the small mountain communities. I always wonder what it would be like to live in a rural mountain town.
I continued driving and ended up in Sacramento where I stayed with a friend, the next day I headed back on the road and returned to Bakersfield.
On the 16th I decided to head south to San Diego to visit my brother and go to the Slab City Talent Show. When I got to San Diego we ate at Lucha Libre Taqueria which had the most amazing burritos and very colorful decor-it was all Mexican wrestling themed. The next day we gathered our camping gear and headed East to the Imperial Valley to get to Slab City which is near Niland, Ca in the desert.
Slab City is well-known by the transient population. It is the place for people who have no where else to go. Many people live in permanent trailers or campers, some are permanent tent campers, and some just come for the winter season.
Slab City claim to fame is Salvation Mountain which is a man-made mountain made from adobe. It is very colorful and the creator is more than eager to show you his creation. The mountain has a huge cross on the top and has bible versus throughout.
Slab City and Salvation Mountain were both in the movie "Into the Wild" since it is one of the places the protagonist went to on his journey.
At the talent show, I managed to make friends with a musician who like my brother was there for the day to perform. He had an awesome singing voice and he and my brother jammed all night with the local residents. The next morning, Julian, met me at my campsite and asked if I would accompany him to the mineral hot springs and that he would take me back to San Diego (he is also from SD). I figured that getting kidnapped by a stranger in Slab City would be a great adventure so off I went into the desert with Julian in his convertible car.
We spent the day at the "Fountain of Youth Hot Springs" were Julian serenaded me and I worked on my tan. We then headed back to San Diego into the sunset, and I kept on thinking of movie-like this whole experience is. Here I am with a guy I just met in Slab City, riding in a convertible, driving into the sunset. I arrived safely to my brother's house and Julian and I said our goodbyes, we exchanged phone numbers, but I don't think I will see him again because I'd rather it be left as a memory.