Safe and Sound in Burbank, CA

Ladies and gentleman, we arrived safely.

We did not arrive cleanly, mannerly, well-spoken or well-dressed, but we got here, damnit.

A recap of the past few days:

We spent a fantastic day in Spokane seeing the downtown area, and riding in a cable car/thing over the falls. We spent the rest of our time in Spokane eating Ben and Jerry’s and watching movies. We really needed to recharge our batteries (both literally and figuratively speaking) The Departed, Men in Black, The Derjeeling Limited, and Karate Kid Part: II filled us with new vocabulary to take on our way. My great friend Kristen put us up in Spokane, and gave us a tour of the radio station where she DJs. WAY FUN! Awesome setup, and nice coworkers. She also cooked an amazing breakfast.

We departed our warm sheltered nights in Spokane and set out for freezing temperatures at Crater Lake National Park. Go ahead and google crater lake. I’ll have some photos up, but they certainly will not do it justice. We made an important stop along the way, at an all-purpose store of sorts. The sign above it read: GUNS AMMO BEER WINE LIQUOR. Unreal folks.
For those of you playing the at home game, that’s a
ONE STOP VIOLENCE EMPORIUM.
Awesome! The dudes inside were super nice though, and I picked up a winter hat for the impending freeze we were about to bear. Crater lake really was breathtaking. We almost ran out of gas, but managed to make it work! After watching sunrise over the lake we hit the road.
Upon Mike’s Uncle Eric’s advice, we stopped in Ashland, OR for the “best breakfast in the country” with a great friend of his, Graham. This breakfast was SERIOUS. Steaming muffins were followed by a HUGE (half order) omelet that was handed down from God. Apple-smoked bacon, caramelized onions, and fontina cheese…holy crap. Unbelievably delicious. Also google Morning Glory Ashland, Oregon. That’s where you can get the best breakfast in the country.
We got back on the road, and were elated to cross the border into California. We were alive, and almost at our destination. We got into Oakland, CA and met up with Mike’s Uncle E. He took us out and treated us to an AMAZING dinner at Pomegranate, a pan Mediterranean restaurant. This place had the best hummus we’ve ever tasted. After Dinner we went for a walking tour of Berkeley. The people here are completely insane. Telegraph Ave (or street?) is like walking on the moon. Hippies strewn about the sidewalk, people preaching all sorts of causes, and the craziest looking folks I’ve seen in a while.
We checked out the Berzerkely Poetry Slam at a local bar. Great poets, great scene, the show started a little late, but what talent!
After getting back home with Uncle E, we called an old friend Alana who had just moved to Oakland. We met her for a drink and had a TON of laughs looking for open bars, and Mexican food after midnight. It’s an odd but beautiful sensation to be sitting at a bar in Oakland with a friend who grew up around the block from you.
The next morning we set out for our last day of driving. Stopped in for delicious brunch in Santa Cruz with my old roommate Ariana, and then took Pacific Coast Highway 1 down to Santa Barbara. The coast highway lives up to expectations. It was covered in fog, but still a sight. We stopped at a small state park and walked down a stream to the ocean, taking it all in. The drive was slow going, but worth it. This was definitely the most dangerous and demanding road I’ve ever been on.
After arriving in Santa Barbara, we parked the car and headed into the show.
Oh, I’m sorry, did I forget to mention? After ten days of being on the road, we ended our cross-country road trip by seeing arguably the best band in the world.

Radiohead Setlist 8/28/08 – Santa Barbara Bowl

"Reckoner"
"Optimistic"
"There There"
"15 Step"
"All I Need"
"Nude"
"Talk Show Host"
"Weird Fishes/Arpeggi"
"The Gloaming"
"Morning Bell"
"The National Anthem"
"Faust Arp"
"No Surprises"
"Jigsaw Falling Into Place"
"The Bends"
"Karma Police"
"Bodysnatchers"
Encore 1:
"Cymbal Rush"
"House of Cards"
"Paranoid Android"
"Go Slowly"
"Everything In Its Right Place"
Encore 2:
"Videotape"
"Lucky"
"Idioteque"

Unreal folks, unreal. They blew my mind right off. Everything sounded GREAT. I’ve seen them 3 times prior, and this was hands-down the best. In my mind, the rumors are true: best act in the world.

We pushed on after the show and made it to Pasadena to 'pass-out-adena' at a couchsurfer’s place.

We woke up Friday morning and drove to LAX.

Mike and I sat and enjoyed a light snack in mostly silence. We had an excellent time, and enjoyed a great adventure together.

I called my buddy Blake in Burbank, and crashed on his futon. I will remain here until I move in and begin the program on Tuesday. I am sleeping and eating a lot.

That’s pretty much it for travelling. I’ll post the final photos in the gallery, so please take a look.

I’ll try to do updates from time to time for anyone who wants to keep reading, but until December 13th, and the start of the trip back, I’ll see you all soon.

A few thank yous:
First and foremost, my Mom: She lovingly gave me her pride and joy Mini Cooper for four months. This was the best roadtrip car we could’ve hoped for. Gas mileage, driveability, and looks!
Our benefactors: Parents, family, anyone who sent happy thoughts, donated some food money, put us up, shared a meal, or any combination of the above, THANK YOU. This trip was a blast, and couldn’t have happened without you.

Thanks for reading all the blabbering, hope you laughed a few times, we sure did.

LOVE- Dan