Don't Be Mad.

Once again there is too much to say. Last place i wrote was Scottsdale... Since then we have driven through the California Desert, Joshua Tree, and into LA. We stayed right on the Venice Beach boardwalk and had a ball. As soon as we got in we walked immediately down to the beach and put our feet into the ocean. We walked and walked up and down the boardwalk passing Santa Monica pier until we were exhausted. This was Monday, Cole's birthday, golden birthday, 22 on the 22nd. We went for a late birthday a great little Mexican joint for margaritas. The service here was amazing all 40 something latin comedians. Exhaustedly we went back to the hotel and collapsed. Next day we slept late and went to LA Farmers Market, it really was more of a glorified food court, and got some lunch. Went for a drive around Hollywood and Beverly Hills and got lost in the hills. When we found our way out we returned to Venice to go hang out on the beach. Cole and Matt threw the frisbee, Kate and I layed in the sand. That night we ended up on the rooftop terrace, talking with a new friend Cedric. The next morning Kate and I went for a nice morning walk through the Venice Canals and went back to the beach. I went for a quick swim and sunned ourselves. We drove out of town up highway 1 through Malibu and Santa Barbara finally landing in secluded beachfront campground just south of Lompac. The next day we continued our incredible drive up the coast finally hitting the hairpin turns and steep cliffs I love to drive. Through SLO and Santa Cruz camping down in the an old growth Redwood Forest 70 miles south of San Francisco. Our tent was in the shadow of a Redwood at least 15 feet in diameter. Yesterday we arrived in San Francisco. Checked in, showered and went up to Haight Ashbury. Continued in Portland... Photos to follow, must check out.

The Castle Moncion

Nothing like dangling your tootsies in this pool.

One sharp looking Man.

Walk like an Egyptian.

First workout in years and i am already ripped.

Cole's last step with pep.

Love this shot and this woman.

At the toppest.

Welcome to Scottsdale, some call it lil beverly hills. We arrived friday night 7:20 local time, and were welcomed immediately into the house with nachos and beers. Matt's father and his wife are incredible hosts. That night we stayed in and enjoyed each other company and made some plans for our weekend together, hiking a small isolated mountain in scottsdale called Camelback, and lounging poolside cooling off from the 100 degree heat. Saturday morning, Matt's dad and us three boys embarked on the hike up camelback (Warnings were given about hiking in the heat and that this wasn't a beginners hike) Cole the weakest link in our troup did his best and made it using mental determination and support from his close pals. The hike took us 2 hours and was a great work-out haven't sweated like that since high-school soccer practices. During our hike Lenore (Matt's dad's wife) and Kate went thrifting and visited a interesting artist commune known for their ceramic bells and fresh architecture. They also took a drive past the mountain we were hiking and toured the celebrity neighborhood in scottsdale. We all met back at the castle moncion and got in the pool, and sunned ourselves. Dinner was burgers and dogs, and best corn of the season yet. Drinks and good company all night. Met Matt's step-sister and her husband, old schoolmates of mine and kate. To bed too late planning on another hike, something a bit easier than the first one. We all slept too late and missed the hike, except matt and his dad, which worked out well as it is fathers day. They returned just as we were applying the sunscreen for a well planned day of poolside fun. So far so good. Mr. Moncion is preping dinner in front of me, looks great, mangoes nectarines peppers. Can't wait.

As it is father's day i want to send out a message to all of our dads who are elsewhere we love you very much. And although we are having a great day i know i speak for all of us that we miss you and wish you could be here enjoying this 100 degree day with us.

Anecdotes Missing!

How Cole saw the Grand Canyon (Through the BlueBlockers)

Classic Matt

Kate wishing I was Thompson

Double Arch

Drive down the Colorado River in Utah

The Res

My Beautiful Baby

This is harder than i thought it might be. Time moves very fast on the road. Days whiz by, experiences add up, photos pile up, stories get filed away in my memory to make room for the present. So i read the last post to see where i left off, rockies game... correction in the last post, that wasn't kate's first MLB game, she has attended a half dozen or so Braves game in her youth. On to what has happened since. The morning after Sanchos and the Rockies game the four of us, rose and mike (our gracious hosts) slept late and went for a great breakfast at the Buff. 99cent bloody marys (best i have had in some time), and big portions filled us up right, not a greasy joint at all phenomal food and drinks. On to the Res... just a few miles outside of Boulder is a man made reservoir thick clay on the bottom. We had a ball throwing the ball with Rose's animal Yeti, he is both a dog and an animal. The weather wasn't exactly beach weather, ominous rain clouds came over the mountains. But never dampened our spirits. That night we went to The Sundown Saloon (where Rose cocktails), a cheap beer and whisky joint, and played free pool until we couldn't stand anymore. (Ran into an old party aquaintance from my less exciting younger years) 7am thursday morning, wake up groggy and get on the road, testing the car for the first time driving through ski country, up into the mountains, she (the focus) handled them like I handle eveything with class and grace. A fast three hours through CO and we turned south onto a state road in UT.. everything turned red and the earth started to turn into layers. As it has done everyday of this trip up into today, it started to rain just as we drove up the steep switch back to enter Arches National Park. Nervously we started our first hike towards the North and South Windows. The rain never really affected our stay in Arches and to try and describe the natural beauty in words is a task i am unwilling to undertake. We headed south racing the sun down, trying to find a campsite half-way between Arches and the Grand Canyon. We failed. Driving into the night, making a few wrong turns (both in the car and in our minds filling the car with 20+ lbs of fire wood and 24 beers). Finally we made it to Grand Canyon National Park, 2:30... no one at the entrance and a sign saying every campground was full, dejectedly we drove around the first campsite and luckily found one availible site. 3:30am cooking pasta, drinking one beer and falling asleep exhausted. We woke and packed up camp (never really seeing the surroundings in our campground) and ventured further into the park driving the south rim stopping often to admired the depth and beauty of the canyon. Wishing we could hike down, but knowing full well we were ill-prepared and chasing the clock again. Me and matt hiked down maybe a 1000 feet. Wishing we could go further. Filled our belly's, bought some souvenirs, mailed my internet bill, and drove south again to Scottsdale, to the Moncion Complex. This post is too long. Must post more often. Best wishes to all who read the whole post.

After the much needed rest (6 hours... not enough!)... We went to lunch at a nice little diner in downtown Boulder called Mountain Sun. Great sandwiches and burgers and incredible house brewed beer. Excellent variety and wonderfully hand-crafted, 6 tanks in the back. That evening we went to a Rockies baseball game. Kate's first MLB game ever and my first since seeing the Tiger's at Tiger stadium when i was in cub scouts. (At that game i wore my shorts backward to show my affinity to the popular duo Kriss-Kross) We brought bad luck to the Rockies they were on a 11 game win streak and just got killed by Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 12 runs on 6 Homers. Oh well. After the game we went to a bar just down the road from the state capital... as we walked past matt asked, "Isn't this Notre Dame?".. The bar, Santos, is a great dive bar, with almost only Grateful Dead on the juke-box. Cheap PBR and games... then bus back to Boulder. Great day.

Arrived in Boulder Tuesday morning 6:45 am. Bonnaroo was incredible, top heavy, on friday (Dirty Projectors, Animal Collective, St. Vincent, Grizzly Bear, TV on the Radio, David Byrne, Crystal Castles)... so Saturday and Sunday suffered lineup-wise. But the experience isnt all music, the camping and daily life is like utopia. 70,000+. We had a blast. My favorite was dirty projectors, david bryne came out to finish the set with a fantastic rendition of Knotty Pine (although David forgot some of the words). Crystal Castles was an incredible highlight. Unfortunately i dont have photos of these shows. And i dont think i have seen Matt in such euphoric shock until after David Byrne he was so close to the stage he could spit on his favorite singer, although im sure he wouldnt have. Well enough of Bonnaroo recap. We are all very excited to begin the road trip. A day and a half of rest and friends in Boulder, and then westward. Here are a few photos from the party on tuesday night and from Bonnaroo.

Road Trip begins June 10, 2009 Midnight

Kate, Cole, Matt and I are embarking on memorable, noteworthy, educational, inspirational potentially life changing road trip, journey starting June 10, 2009 at midnight. Many have heard too much about this trip already but in case there are folks who are interested i have decided to set this site up to allow you follow along. I promise nothing, and because of the nature and location of this trip updates will probably have very little consistency. But as often as I can, and hopefully Kate, Cole, and Matt will leave messages.

First stop Bonnaroo!