31 May 2011

colorado time

We arrived in Colorado to a warm welcome from the Shaffers. We spent a comfortable night and were treated to an impromptu concert in the morning on violin, cello, and then piano from three of the kids (no piano picture, I don’t think she would’ve let me take a picture of her at that point!).

We went four wheeling up La Playa Canyon, stopping by a waterfall where I stood out on a narrow ledge:

I took a photo of the waterfall from that ledge and shot back up at the Shaffers:

We were taken up to the furthest point where the road was plowed – it was gorgeous looking back down the canyon.

On the way back down, we stopped by the creek and the kids had a good time throwing and skipping rocks in the water.

In the afternoon we went to a Trials Bike Competition at a park on the Colorado River. Those guys were amazing to watch balancing and bouncing their bikes around, sometimes at the very edge of the river. It was also fun to watching people on the river riding rafts, kayaks, inner tubes, and even a boogie board. It was especially cool to see some playboaters in the standing waves, though even they stopped to watch the bikes sometimes!

We took off after a late lunch/ early supper and made it past Albuquerque to Moriarty, NM. On the way, we were surprised to be stopped on a 70 mph stretch of highway in NM. It turned out to be a cattle drive crossing the highway!

The next day we drove the rest of the way to Sand Springs, OK. Some highlights were the long flat NOTHING in the Texas panhandle,

the Cadillacs stuck in the ground just West of Amarillo (didn't get a picture but you can see a couple here), and proof that EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas – this cross is 190 feet tall!!

We battled the heat with a makeshift sunshade,

and ended up in the rolling green hills of Oklahoma!

30 May 2011

on the road

Thursday, May 27 was the day we actually rolled out. My dad and I drove from Cupertino to South Lake Tahoe to load up my car. I finally locked up my storage area, stuffed to the gills - don't open that door unless you want things to fall on you!!

We had a last look at my Tahoe home before getting in my ridiculously overloaded car at about 4 pm...

We stopped for dinner and gasoline in Fallon, NV. For those in California - check out the $3.89 gas prices!

We spent the night in Austin, NV, then took off across the rest of Nevada and Utah. We stopped at Arches National Park just north of Moab, spent an hour to drive to the first of the actual arches and take a walk up to one of them.

Last look back at the Sierra Nevada.

North Window

For those who read Chinese, do you recognize this character?

We arrived in Durango, CO at about 9:45 pm to visit a friend I hadn't seen since our senior year in high school.

last minute

My last days in the Bay Area were spent catching up with a few more friends and taking my required first aid class. Photos follow:

There was a new visitor in the Chan's yard.

23 May 2011

leaving...

I left Tahoe yesterday evening, driving out FINALLY at 6:30 pm. Instead of seeing several people I'd planned to see on Sunday, I spent the day trying to finish packing up the house. Sigh.

The house is still a mess, with a huge pile for donation, a huge pile for storage at a friend's place, and a rather large pile of packing materials for recycling. One room also still contains whatever I'm bringing with me (I hope I can fit it all).

My car was rather full when I drove down here:

At least I could see a LITTLE bit out of the rear view.

Today I was able to catch up with a few friends, here are pictures of 3 out of 5 of them (I forgot to take photos with the other two!)...

And then I had dinner with the parents:

18 May 2011

panic time

It's 11:30 Wednesday night.  I leave Tahoe on Saturday.  Tomorrow I'm in class from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm, and I work 7:30 am - 6:30 pm on Friday.  Is it possible for a house to pack and clean itself?

I've sold off and given away a bunch of stuff, packed over half my stuff, yet it seems like I've just barely started.


somewhat typical room

storage area

Somehow, I'll manage...