From the beginning of planning, I had this deep down, mostly ignored, feeling that my car would break down beyond repair on this trip. I threw caution to the wind and did it any way. I figured if it broke down in New Mexico or Texas, I would at least get a good adventure and bus ride out of it.

I could not believe it. We left Seattle late on a Saturday and headed South. First stop was to be somewhere to sleep along northern California and then on to Melodies in LA. My car was reluctant, to say the least, at attempting the passes of Oregon, however, I knew these would be the only big passes we would be going over, as we were taking the southern route the rest of the way.

At 11pm, my car seized to shift gears and made horrible noises, after a brief stop in a dangerous point on the freeway we made it to a gas station in which AAA came to the rescue. We were in Phoenix, Oregon. They took us back to Medford, Oregon. Rowdy times at Gypsy Blues bar, A 'to Hell with Hitler' button was acquired as well as a few lawn flamingos kidnapped. Kelsey and I fell in love with Medford

On Monday morning my car was pronounced dead. Both the Clutch and Transmission had gone out. The decision was made and my car was buried in Medford. Malia, Keith and Adam came to the rescue and drove down Monday to pick us up. We had one last night in Medford and then headed back north. Stopped in Portland for some dinner and a bewildering venture to Powell Books.

Got back to Seattle, had a day and a half and then Kelsey flew to Georgia with me. Adventure had, sadly at the expense of one awesome car.

written by  crAsh13 on January 15, 2008 from Seattle, United States
from the travel blog: adventures in the US
tagged RoadTrip, Oregon, Portland and Flamingos
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Melodie and me

Feeling stagnant and tired in Atlanta, I set out for Los Angeles. Five days of craziness followed and a rejuvenated lust for travel lingered as I went back to Atlanta. Meeting people, bar hoping, drinking champagne in the pool and eating out in the LA fashion were enjoyable. Meeting up with Carl and getting to spend some time with him was a delight. However, watching Melodie throw a tantrum for the power being out in 100 heat, yelling at bicycles that we were 'bylegicles' on the Venice Beach bike path, 'marching around the block with a sword and shield, falling and getting four HUGE bruises, rocking Disneyland with whiskey sours and all the good conversations in between were what made this trip.

Arriving at LAX at 6am to find that all the standbys were full...for the entire day...was not as much fun. I went into traveler mode, hightailed it to John Wayne Airport in Orange County and got on a flight out of there. In the six hours I was forced to wait in the airport, I acquired an Arnold Schwarzenegger t-shirt that says 'the Govenator,' satisfaction for a day spent watching planes take off.

The downfall of an amazing week in LA is that it gave me the strongest desire to just keep traveling and not come back to Atlanta. I thought the break would make me happier at home but it left me with stronger urges to be in other cities. The coping mechanism; meet new people here.

LA - I fell in love with you, in that strange sort of 'i know you will hurt me but I can't help it' way. I want to come back before I leave the country...we will see.

written by  crAsh13 on June 19, 2008 from Los Angeles, United States
from the travel blog: adventures in the US
tagged Disneyland, LosAngeles and VeniceBeach
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