Driving into Tacoma I was surprised at how much it felt like a beach-y town, it was so nice! All the houses are really cute and the water is gorgeous.
Visiting magi was really great! She has an amazingly cute house with a beautiful garden and backyard. When we first arrived Magi introduced us to her friend who was lying in the grass and it turns out that she and Hannah when to middle school together...crazy!
After we got the grand tour of the house we helped Dana, magi's bff (besides me, of course) and housemate move some stuff out. We had a desk dilemma and ended up smashing it so it would fit into the car. After that exciting incident we got ready and went to a really cute sandwich place for dinner. The waiter was a jerk to Hannah because he gave her Coke, not Diet Coke, and when she called him on it he got all huffy. But other then that it was a really nice dinner. Magi is very popular, she kept having friends say hi during our meal.
After dinner we took off for a bar for Magi and Dana to say good-bye to their buds, very sad. It was also sad that Hannah wasn't feeling well because she stayed in. It ended up being good though because Tim was very sick so she stayed on the phone with him. Now he's better :)
The bar was nice and it was really great to meet some of Magi's friends that I've heard about since freshman year. We got to play shuffle board!! And Jesse Hamburger came!
We got in pretty early and then went to sleep because Dana and Magi had plans to leave early for Colorado the next morning.
Next stop: Portland!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
"Jerks Suck" The Coeur d'Alene Version
we left our very cute campsite and drove highway 12 through the mountains to highway 95 which took us all the way to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho where our old camp counselor, Jake Smulkowski, lives. Jake and I had been talking about a visit for some time now so it was really great that we got to actually make it happen. He and his fiancé just moved into a new apartment and it was so great to see them and meet Darci. We went out to a great dinner and watched "Remember the Titans". True to form, I cried...a lot. We stayed up late into the night (for 2 people who have been going to sleep at 8:30) remembering funny camp stories and sharing new ones. When we got up in the morning we headed to Tacoma....
5/21...A Continuation
after some nervous sighs and being overly watchful of road signs, we reached Jerry Johnson Hotsprings. After we parked a nice looking man with one large, silver, hoop earring (hey! we're from the Bay Area...nothing shocks us.) was approaching his car. This man will, from here on out, be refereed to as 'The Pirate' Here is the dialogue that followed:
Hannah: Um, Can you give us directions?
Pirate: Pray hard and look up! [points to grey sky above us]
H: uh....
P: Where?
H: to the hot springs
P: You are far too clothed, you'll have to get naked before you go.
H: Oh, don't worry we will....[looks awkwardly at Ottilia]
P: Man, it smells like somebody died out here...ya know, there are bears and they do kill people.
H: Yea....[looks terrified]
P: Ok, you go across the bridge and follow the trail when you get to the hills, there are 2, you are 90% there. So where are you guys from?
H: California, so we're used to naked people.
P: Great, you'll fit right in. WHY would you go to California?
H: Oh, thats home.
P: Why????????
H: Family
P: I've got some beers, you guys want some?
Ottilia: oh no thanks we don't drink.
P: Theyll ahve some for you, Do you have pot?
H: Nope.
P: Do you at least have some water? [asking as if beer and weed were essential for survival in the wilderness]
O: yes!
P: Are you guys bringing tobacco? The Indians used tobacco to thank mother earth for the hot springs.
H: Oh thats cool but we don't have any.
P: Well here's a cigarette. [He ripped off the filter so we wouldn't smoke it.]
At this point both Ottilia and I have stuffed towels AND bathing suits into our bag and are nervously looking at each other for an escape route.
H: K, thanks! we're gunna go.
P: You might see two of my friends. They stayed to fornicate in the bushes...never did understand why its called fornicating when it's only 2 people...
H&O: awkward laughter, Yea...
P: Don't forget to lock your car and hide your valuables.
H&O: Okay, thanks....
When walking across the highway to the bridge we both confessed we no longer wanted to go but also couldn't go back to the car since the pirate was still waiting for his fornicating friends. We had stuck our bathing suits into our bags (what would you have done? creepy old man...Possible need to run for your life from bears...naked or not naked?). The trail had said 1.5 miles, further than we expected, but we trucked on anyway. On the walk we contemplated how we would react to meeting a grizzly bear, changing into our suits at the hot springs and encountering the underground gay scene in Idaho. We arrived at the hotsprings invited us in after a brief moment of awkward giggles from Ottilia and I. There were a total of 7 people in the hotsprings. An older couple with their dog, naked with wine, cheese and crackers (all of which fell in the water). Four twentysomethings, 3/4 wearing bathing suits. 1 Lone Ranger, wearing only a straw safari hat, sitting on the edge of the hot springs and watching the people. He clearly wasn't thrilled to be surrounded by drunk(ish) college kids from Mankato, Minnesota. We changed behind some rocks and hopped in. The water was perfect. They offered us drinks a bunch and the naked younger guy did a lot of accidental penis/butt in the face bending and stretching. His name, we learned, was Phil and he was studied neuroscience in the hope of working at a pharmasutical company and then go on to teach at a small college. We assume he will go very, very far due to the "I Rule" tattoo on his foot, which, to his credit, he got when he was drunk...All-in-all, as they all have been, it was a great adventure!!
Now are camping in the rain at Wilderness Gateway Campground on Highway 12 in Idaho. The sites are very private with little paths and tree cover--very cute! Thank god!
Camping in the rain turned out to be just fine, we hunkered down and fell asleep by about 8:30. Sleeping when you are camping is just about the best thing ever- 10 or 12 hours is what I really need. Next stop: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Hannah: Um, Can you give us directions?
Pirate: Pray hard and look up! [points to grey sky above us]
H: uh....
P: Where?
H: to the hot springs
P: You are far too clothed, you'll have to get naked before you go.
H: Oh, don't worry we will....[looks awkwardly at Ottilia]
P: Man, it smells like somebody died out here...ya know, there are bears and they do kill people.
H: Yea....[looks terrified]
P: Ok, you go across the bridge and follow the trail when you get to the hills, there are 2, you are 90% there. So where are you guys from?
H: California, so we're used to naked people.
P: Great, you'll fit right in. WHY would you go to California?
H: Oh, thats home.
P: Why????????
H: Family
P: I've got some beers, you guys want some?
Ottilia: oh no thanks we don't drink.
P: Theyll ahve some for you, Do you have pot?
H: Nope.
P: Do you at least have some water? [asking as if beer and weed were essential for survival in the wilderness]
O: yes!
P: Are you guys bringing tobacco? The Indians used tobacco to thank mother earth for the hot springs.
H: Oh thats cool but we don't have any.
P: Well here's a cigarette. [He ripped off the filter so we wouldn't smoke it.]
At this point both Ottilia and I have stuffed towels AND bathing suits into our bag and are nervously looking at each other for an escape route.
H: K, thanks! we're gunna go.
P: You might see two of my friends. They stayed to fornicate in the bushes...never did understand why its called fornicating when it's only 2 people...
H&O: awkward laughter, Yea...
P: Don't forget to lock your car and hide your valuables.
H&O: Okay, thanks....
When walking across the highway to the bridge we both confessed we no longer wanted to go but also couldn't go back to the car since the pirate was still waiting for his fornicating friends. We had stuck our bathing suits into our bags (what would you have done? creepy old man...Possible need to run for your life from bears...naked or not naked?). The trail had said 1.5 miles, further than we expected, but we trucked on anyway. On the walk we contemplated how we would react to meeting a grizzly bear, changing into our suits at the hot springs and encountering the underground gay scene in Idaho. We arrived at the hotsprings invited us in after a brief moment of awkward giggles from Ottilia and I. There were a total of 7 people in the hotsprings. An older couple with their dog, naked with wine, cheese and crackers (all of which fell in the water). Four twentysomethings, 3/4 wearing bathing suits. 1 Lone Ranger, wearing only a straw safari hat, sitting on the edge of the hot springs and watching the people. He clearly wasn't thrilled to be surrounded by drunk(ish) college kids from Mankato, Minnesota. We changed behind some rocks and hopped in. The water was perfect. They offered us drinks a bunch and the naked younger guy did a lot of accidental penis/butt in the face bending and stretching. His name, we learned, was Phil and he was studied neuroscience in the hope of working at a pharmasutical company and then go on to teach at a small college. We assume he will go very, very far due to the "I Rule" tattoo on his foot, which, to his credit, he got when he was drunk...All-in-all, as they all have been, it was a great adventure!!
Now are camping in the rain at Wilderness Gateway Campground on Highway 12 in Idaho. The sites are very private with little paths and tree cover--very cute! Thank god!
Camping in the rain turned out to be just fine, we hunkered down and fell asleep by about 8:30. Sleeping when you are camping is just about the best thing ever- 10 or 12 hours is what I really need. Next stop: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
5/20/10 Montana.
From Ottilia:
Hannah and I are safe and sound in our huge tent listening to cows get it on and feeling scared enough about their strange sounds to peek out of our spy windows. Were in Cooney Island State Park in Montana. Were the only tents but there is also an RV it is kinda wierd but really really beautiful here.
When we first arrived here we were sad to find that there was no park ranger, we knocked on the door to the camp hosts RV, no answer. But then we saw a truck! So exciting. The guy got out and went into a teeny tiny shack. Later we learned that this was the sugr shack, to set us up with all our fishing needs. We asked the guy about camping and he said we could park anywhere we wanted.
Because we were the only campers and some of the only people for miles we thought the road signs warning of congestion and "15 mph speed checked by radar" were totally hilarious. There is no cell service here...scary.
5/21/10...
We woke up in our motel and had a lovely breakfast... Wait, did we mention the motel? We were all tucked in at the scary campsite when I turned to hannah and asked if she was awake...she was. We were both really scared and wanted to get out before we were inevitably attacked by serial killers. When we arrived at our friendly Super 8 we were greeted by a freaked out old lady who had found a unidentifiable bug in her room. Such a warm welcome. It was actually great- free breakfast and hot showers. We hit the road pretty early and made it to Missoula. Our first interaction was with the nicest canvasser ever! We got yummy pizza at Bridge pizza and made friends with a guy working at Pipeline Moutaineering. He gave us directions to Jerry Johnson Hotsprings. Everyone in Missoula was super nice. Directions were acurate but super liberal when they told us how long it would take to get there. We took some amazing pictures at the Idaho border and even ran across the highway. Eventually we reached the hotsprings... To be continued.
Hannah and I are safe and sound in our huge tent listening to cows get it on and feeling scared enough about their strange sounds to peek out of our spy windows. Were in Cooney Island State Park in Montana. Were the only tents but there is also an RV it is kinda wierd but really really beautiful here.
When we first arrived here we were sad to find that there was no park ranger, we knocked on the door to the camp hosts RV, no answer. But then we saw a truck! So exciting. The guy got out and went into a teeny tiny shack. Later we learned that this was the sugr shack, to set us up with all our fishing needs. We asked the guy about camping and he said we could park anywhere we wanted.
Because we were the only campers and some of the only people for miles we thought the road signs warning of congestion and "15 mph speed checked by radar" were totally hilarious. There is no cell service here...scary.
5/21/10...
We woke up in our motel and had a lovely breakfast... Wait, did we mention the motel? We were all tucked in at the scary campsite when I turned to hannah and asked if she was awake...she was. We were both really scared and wanted to get out before we were inevitably attacked by serial killers. When we arrived at our friendly Super 8 we were greeted by a freaked out old lady who had found a unidentifiable bug in her room. Such a warm welcome. It was actually great- free breakfast and hot showers. We hit the road pretty early and made it to Missoula. Our first interaction was with the nicest canvasser ever! We got yummy pizza at Bridge pizza and made friends with a guy working at Pipeline Moutaineering. He gave us directions to Jerry Johnson Hotsprings. Everyone in Missoula was super nice. Directions were acurate but super liberal when they told us how long it would take to get there. We took some amazing pictures at the Idaho border and even ran across the highway. Eventually we reached the hotsprings... To be continued.
Friday, May 21, 2010
75 mph is a great speed limit
Here is the update from yesterday May 20th, 2010 Montana
We left the park at about 1030 and hit the road. We drove to Billings, Montana and got some soup at a really cute place downtown.
This morning we went to the car to get our morning outfits and when I was waiting for hannah to go unlock the car I noticed a bison across the street , about 5 yards away...scary. Hannah came and saw it, we took some silly pictures and decided to give the huge animal some space. When he started walking into our campsiite we abandoned the campsite and went to the bathroom... We met some new friends who are driving to portland from buffalo, new york. We could still see the bison who was next to our tent muching a long... Then we both ran up and took a ride!! Ok, just kidding. we have a piece of buffalo fur.
More later...sleepy.
We left the park at about 1030 and hit the road. We drove to Billings, Montana and got some soup at a really cute place downtown.
This morning we went to the car to get our morning outfits and when I was waiting for hannah to go unlock the car I noticed a bison across the street , about 5 yards away...scary. Hannah came and saw it, we took some silly pictures and decided to give the huge animal some space. When he started walking into our campsiite we abandoned the campsite and went to the bathroom... We met some new friends who are driving to portland from buffalo, new york. We could still see the bison who was next to our tent muching a long... Then we both ran up and took a ride!! Ok, just kidding. we have a piece of buffalo fur.
More later...sleepy.
Cell Reception is Rough in North Dakota
I know, I know we ask you to read this blog and then we don't update but you should be mad at North dakota cell providers, not us. We have 2 days worth of updates so settle in and get ready to take a trip across the country...
From may 19th, 2010 at a picnic table Cottonwood Campground Roosevelt state park:
Today we covered over 600 miles from St.paul to here. Highlights:
- saw a bison at a campsite and one peacefully grasing across the little missouri river
-stopped at worlds largest sand hill crane which we assumed would be HUGE cconstruction equipment but was actually a huge metal bird...well huge by bird standards, which wasn't all that big...
- traveled along the "Enchanted Highway" for about 2 blocks where we stopped and played in the park... I (hannah) wouldn't let Ottilia off the see saw...we used their ridiculously high toilet...
-experienced quite a thrill when a bee decided it wanted a road trip too and flew around the windsield of the car...it was terrifying....
- arrived at the park, drove to campsit...tried to take a prarie dog home...wished Spice and Maggie were with us to chase them around... :-)
-set up the tent fast as lightening (probably setting a world record say Ottilia)
-met AJ who might be a serial killer (he didn't kill us though...whew)
-made friends with Sarah, a intense christiAn who needed utensils...we gave her a plastic fork. She is road tripping with her fiance, they have decided divorce isn't an options.... We give it 4 years.
- had a schmorgus borg (sp?) Of bread, cheese, salami and cookies for dinner. Yummm
-played rummy, ottilia won.
- word to the wise: never listen to under the tuscan sun on a road trip but it works wonders for insomnia...
-tons of bugs.
-cutest gas station ever in medora, nd...total tourist trap which we fell for and bought homemade taffy and coffee from these cute ladies...
Alright my thumbs need a break. Will update again asap!!
Love, hannah and ottilia
From may 19th, 2010 at a picnic table Cottonwood Campground Roosevelt state park:
Today we covered over 600 miles from St.paul to here. Highlights:
- saw a bison at a campsite and one peacefully grasing across the little missouri river
-stopped at worlds largest sand hill crane which we assumed would be HUGE cconstruction equipment but was actually a huge metal bird...well huge by bird standards, which wasn't all that big...
- traveled along the "Enchanted Highway" for about 2 blocks where we stopped and played in the park... I (hannah) wouldn't let Ottilia off the see saw...we used their ridiculously high toilet...
-experienced quite a thrill when a bee decided it wanted a road trip too and flew around the windsield of the car...it was terrifying....
- arrived at the park, drove to campsit...tried to take a prarie dog home...wished Spice and Maggie were with us to chase them around... :-)
-set up the tent fast as lightening (probably setting a world record say Ottilia)
-met AJ who might be a serial killer (he didn't kill us though...whew)
-made friends with Sarah, a intense christiAn who needed utensils...we gave her a plastic fork. She is road tripping with her fiance, they have decided divorce isn't an options.... We give it 4 years.
- had a schmorgus borg (sp?) Of bread, cheese, salami and cookies for dinner. Yummm
-played rummy, ottilia won.
- word to the wise: never listen to under the tuscan sun on a road trip but it works wonders for insomnia...
-tons of bugs.
-cutest gas station ever in medora, nd...total tourist trap which we fell for and bought homemade taffy and coffee from these cute ladies...
Alright my thumbs need a break. Will update again asap!!
Love, hannah and ottilia
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
first post from the road
Dear friends,
Here it is our first post from the road. We have found our way to North Dakota. Our first stop was just west of Fargo. Traffic wasn't bad getting out of the cities and we made good time... About 4 hours to Fargo but that's not bad. We are keeping track of: Prolife Propaganda (1) roadkill (10) and funny billboard. Our plan is to put in another 4 hours or so before we stop to set up camp. It is our hope to stop at state signs and take pictures but the north dakota one was in the middle of the freeway and we didn't think it was a good idea to stop.
Yesterday Ottilia and I went to the library to get books on tape. We decided to start with "under the tuscan sun" thinking it would be a racy, dramatic fun book...wrong.so far, She is happily married and has the money to buy a fancy house in Italy...who knew there was such money is being a college professor... Hmmm...we are hopeful that it will get more enticing....
That's all for now. Stopping for lunch. Love to all!
Here it is our first post from the road. We have found our way to North Dakota. Our first stop was just west of Fargo. Traffic wasn't bad getting out of the cities and we made good time... About 4 hours to Fargo but that's not bad. We are keeping track of: Prolife Propaganda (1) roadkill (10) and funny billboard. Our plan is to put in another 4 hours or so before we stop to set up camp. It is our hope to stop at state signs and take pictures but the north dakota one was in the middle of the freeway and we didn't think it was a good idea to stop.
Yesterday Ottilia and I went to the library to get books on tape. We decided to start with "under the tuscan sun" thinking it would be a racy, dramatic fun book...wrong.so far, She is happily married and has the money to buy a fancy house in Italy...who knew there was such money is being a college professor... Hmmm...we are hopeful that it will get more enticing....
That's all for now. Stopping for lunch. Love to all!
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