North By Northwest Tour

Day 18, Sedro Woolley, WA

2006-06-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

Hours of Driving: 53

I hate to say it, but Washington might be more beautiful than Oregon. Last weekend Steve and I attended the wedding of a Portland friend who has since moved to the Olympic Penninsula. We got to camp by a river, square dance in a barn, and go to a drive in movie. It was awesome. After a gorgeous drive and ferry ride back to the main land, we have arrived at Steve's aunt's house. His cousin took us to a couple swimming holes today where parts of the hike down included clinging to a rope while belaying your way down a steep cliff. Lots of fun. Tonight we play in Bellingham and then it's back to Portland for a quick couple of days. It's hard to believe I'll be on my way home in a week. I've got some great pictures I'll be sure to post when I get home.

Day 14, Eugene, OR

2006-06-23T14:03:00.000-07:00

Hours of Driving: 44

I just got back from a few days on the Oregon coast and am quickly reminded why I like the Pacific Northwest so much. It was just beautiful driving through the mountains to get to the ocean. Steve, Justin, and I rented a house with friends of theirs and their kids. It was definitely a family-centric few days and I felt a little left out having none of my own, but at the same time, it was nice to just get a snapshot of that life. Steve and Rich and I play tonight in town and then Steve and I drive up to Washington for a wedding. Should be lots of fun but being halfway through this trip, I am feeling the pull of home. I am itching to sleep in my own bed, not be driving and eating out all the time, and most of all, see Adam again. It's hard to believe it's already been a week and a half since I left him in LA.

Day 7, Portland, OR

2006-06-16T22:53:00.000-07:00

Hours of driving: 40

Finally, I made it to my old stomping grounds. It's just as beautiful as I remembered. I picked up Justin in Healdsburg and we cruised on up here yesterday. It was a burly trip and we were both pretty glazed when we got here, but now we have a couple days to relax and play some music. Monday we head down to Eugene and then Tuesday it's out to the coast for a couple nights of camping on the beach. I can't wait to see the ocean again. I wish I had longer to play in the city, but we'll be back in a couple weeks. I could definitely live here again.

Day 5, Los Angeles, CA

2006-06-13T11:13:00.000-07:00

Hours of driving: 22

Greetings from the west coast. Hard to believe we have made it this far already. The wedding in Tucson was just delightful. We stayed at a fantastic resort where we spent lots of time relaxing by the pool with Adam's high school friends. He was tickled pink to play catch up with his buddies. The ceremony was outside at sunset with the backdrop of the mountains behind. We ate like kings and drank like fish. We also witnessed what we now refer to as "one hell of a hora". I think it lasted about a half hour. The bride was half Moroccan so there was a special ceremony that was performed at the rehearsal dinner as well where everyone dressed up in robes and carried the bride out on chair as a queen. They danced around carried plates of sweet breads and her father put this brown dye on everyone's hand. Since no one told us that it was dye, many of us assumed it was chocolate and tasted it. It was exactly like licking a shag carpet (name that movie!).

So tomorrow I head up to Healdsburg, leaving Adam to work and play in LA with his friends. Today we are checking out the Fox Studios where a college friend of mine has recently begun working. He said Luke Perry stopped by yesterday. I can only hope he forgot his sunglasses and needs to come back today. I'd probably get star-struck and call him Dylan though.

Leaving Austin, for just a while

2006-06-08T20:11:00.000-07:00

I can bearly believe it's summer already, but the thermometer tells no lies. It is most definitely 100 degrees. The plans changed a bit since we couldn't find a place to stay in Portland. Adam's just doing his thing in Hollywood and I'm rockin' out with the band up in Oregon and Washington. We'll be back in Austin in early July, when it's still nice and hot. Should be fun.