Day Fifteen: Judgment Day

Today, after long last, we finally arrived in California. Much to our relief, everything went according to plan and we were able to stay the night at our new place in Walnut Creek, CA. After having lived in NYC, where everything was always difficult, it was like we were in Bizarro World, where everything went the opposite way than it usually did when we were living in New York. The apartment complex staff are friendly and non-shady like, the apartment itself is clean and spacious, we're right next to the BART train station (which is also clean), AND, most importantly, the apartment complex has a heated pool, a hot tub, a fitness center and a sauna. What more could we ask for? A fireplace in our living room and a balcony? Oh yeah, we have those too.


Emma is happy to be able to stop asking, "Are we there yet?" We are too.


Heads, Carolina. Tails, California. Guess we got tails!


Some mountain shit.


Our apartment, pre-boxes. And yes, it's okay to be jealous of our fireplace.


Sliding glass doors to the balcony.


All of our earthly belongings, piled into one room. Jesus.


Wes expresses his frustration with unpacking by kicking a box, or, doing a jig.


Jess expresses her frustration in a slightly more violent way.


Hey, it's this guy.


Jess hot tubbing it up.


O glorious hot water!




Today's route:

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Day Fifteen: Puyallup, WA to Medford, OR

Our stay in Medford was short, but pleasant. After shacking up in various not-so-great hotels, we spent our last night on the road at the wonderful Quality Inn, the best hotel of the trip. The desk lady was extremely helpful and nice, even opening up the hot tub after hours so that we could take a soak.

Be sure to check out the video of Emma talking in her sleep at the bottom of the page. It's well worth the two minutes you'll spend (sorry for the bumpy camera work--we were in a car, after all).


A "Welcome to Oregon" sign. Ok, so the sign is really far away, but you try taking pictures while driving!


Wes got the truck in a tight spot, so we had to unhook the hitch from the truck in order to back it up. Luckily, the lady at the desk found us a wrench to use.


Our pimp hotel room, complete with a flat screen TV, comfy bed, and even a sofa for Emma.


Emma having her breakfast by the car. It's tough living out of a truck.



Today's route:

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Days Eleven through Fourteen: Puyallup, WA

Our stay in Wes' hometown was a little hectic and crazy, so unfortunately we didn't take a lot of pictures. Here's what we've got:


Jess is starting to go crazy from all the driving.


On our way to Puyallup!


Mount Rainier. Aptly named, considering how rainy Seattle is, according to Jess.


Jess and her friend, Shawn. Would you believe that they met all the way in CT during their E: The Environmental Magazine internship? Who knew that Shawn and Wes were from the same area.


Wes' storage unit, all cleaned out.


Wes in his Darth Vader mask. Sorry, ladies. He's taken.


Black Jack.


A shield of armor that Wes made out of University of Washington meal cards. Yikes.


Awww, Super Nintendo. Those were the days.


Wes' favorite cat shirt. Not really...it was actually part of a Halloween costume.


Emma chained up to the fence while we sat and had drinks at an outdoor restaurant. She likes to watch.


What did we say about watching?

Day Ten: Butte, Montana to Spokane, Washington

Today we arrived at our hotel in Spokane, WA to find out that internet access doesn't necessarily mean that there's access in the room. So, we blogged our adventures in the lobby. Luckily, we got in early because it was a short drive and we gained an hour. Go Pacific Standard Time!


Emma dives right in to her water bowl.


Unfortunately, the hot tub was out of order and the free breakfast bar was lame. Ah, hotel living!


Happy dog is happy.


We cut through the neck of Idaho, as morbid as that sounds.


The freeway doesn't really make a U shape, it only looks that way.


Lake Coeur d'Alene.


Yeah! Washington!


Emma's happy to be in the Evergreen State.


However, her happiness must be restrained.

Today's route:

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Day Nine: Billings, MT to Butte, MT

Today we took our huge truck-towing-a-car through Yellowstone Park, a place that we enjoyed so much that someday we hope to go back there and stay for a few days. We saw lots of wildlife and scenic beauty, but Wes was really banking on seeing a bear. Did he? Read on!


The Kelly Inn in Billings. Totally worth the extra 25 minutes drive.


"I thought the Rocky Mountains would be a little rockier."
"Yeah, that John Denver is full of shit, man."
-Dumb and Dumber


Bob reports for work.


More kickass mountains.


And again...


Entrance to Yellowstone. But where are the yellow stones?


Holy crap! We saw this the first few minutes we were there.


Emma spots her prey. Lucky for us, she doesn't bark at it.


Just a buffalo, hanging around.


Jess holds Emma tight so as not to fall over the two foot high rock wall.


Some big rock.


Emma is the wildlife you've been warned about.


Glasses off.


More rocks!


Jess and Emma.


Snow in the middle of Yellowstone!


Wes should've brought his snow shoes.


A totally unstaged bear sighting.


We didn't get to see Old Faithful, but this would suffice.


Yikes!


Emma drinks boiling water!


Jessica bravely crossing the bridge.


Another hot spring. It smelled like farts.


Emma is already bored with the nation's greatest park.


It was so quiet here, a pretty nice change from New York.


Wes climbed a two foot summit to make this photo happen.


Still loving that damn dog.


Wes is appropriately dressed in his volcano shirt.


More beautiful scenery shit.


KHAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!


Apparently the government owns even the rocks.


Emma doesn't want the camera to steal her soul.


Down in front!


A pretty waterfall.


This is so damn scenic it could be my high school senior photo.


Wes in front of the backdrop.


Trees.


Bear! Wes is pleasantly surprised.


Bear bathing, you know, like bears do.


Some crazy big elk, just hanging around.


More elk.


Wes and the elk, together again.


Yes, Jess is in her sock feet, crossing her fingers that she doesn't step in elk poo.


Awesome.


Emma looking tired after her big, exciting day.

Today's route:

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