Fallbrook! Here we come! (Day 10)

Arriving in David's homeland was so exciting! 10 days on the road was enough time to cultivate a desire to stay put for awhile. We're not exactly sure how long we'll be here. The plan is to be here long enough for David to earn enough money for the rest of the trip and for a solid start once we're in South Carolina.


Contrary to what was said in the video, we were actually on the road for 10 days!

Santa Barbara (Day 9)

A map we looked at showed that from here on down, the California coastline was studded with little missions, the kind set up by the Spanish back in the day when everyone was trying to civilize the natives. One of the more famous missions is located in Santa Barbara.
The Santa Barbara Mission was bustling with school field trips and tourists. The place had quite a history and was very old. The dilapidated stone tanning vats used by the early monks served as the perfect place for us to sit a while and pray.

These vats were located in a little park across the street from the mission. After prayer, David showed me wild sage growing throughout the park. One taste of that and I was hooked!


Surprisingly the last place I wanted to go for dinner was Inn-N-Out, two nights in a row were enough. We were only a few hours from Fallbrook, so we knew that tonight would be our last night on the road. A little splurge seemed appropriate. David treated us out to Souplantation. Basically our dining experience was spent with the whole restaurant gawking at Arrow! We're starting to get accustom to the super star aura that seems to follow him everywhere we go.

Local Tips (Day 8)

Yesterday a Monterrey local gave us a tip to hike Jack's Peak for the best view of the city. Since the goal of this trip is to be flexible enough to experience cool stuff along the way, we decided this one was worth being flexible for.
Jack's Peak was an invigorating morning's climb - the kind of hike that makes you say, "Now this is the way to spend a morning!" The view was amazing too.









Back down at the parking lot another local gave us a tip to hike Garrapata State Park. Since we were in the business of being flexible today, we went for it. Oh where to begin describing this hike? Not only did it rival the Redwoods, but it rivaled every other hike I've ever experienced throughout my lifetime! The trail starts off by taking you
between deserty, catus laden hills. But as you continue, suddenly you find yourself in a full blown ancient, lush, fern gully type Redwood forest! The beauty of the place was breathtaking. Just as darkness was setting in, we made it in time to see Big Sur - the famous waterfall by the ocean. By now we're really hungry, not just hungry, but REALLY hungry. And where do you think we ate? Inn-N-Out of course! You guessed it - Double Double Animal Style all the way baby!

Monterrey! (Day 7)

Most of the day was spent in the city of Monterrey. The place was so beautiful and there was so much to see and do that we decided this one deserved a whole day. Ever since my (Aysha) early childhood when I'd rent the Monterrey Bay Aquarium video at the library, I've dreamed of going to Monterrey. David tried to get us into the aquarium but the price list was equivalent to amputating our right arms; I'll remain content with the video. My favorite part was Cannery Row - a street lined with cute shops. Probably the best of the shops was Girredelli because they handed out whole squares of peppermint white chocolate for samples (it's all about the samples really). We also walked this jogging path that hugged the shoreline on one side and quaint little houses on the other. I like looking at quaint little houses. I wouldn't want to live in one for a long period of time though, because you can't do anything with them. They're so scrunched together, they hardly even have yards. You deffinantly couldn't have a goat and chickens - the true mark of a property's usefulness!


Dinner gave us the chance to eat at our first Inn-N-Out on this trip. It was a special experience. The food is good, straightforward, and cheap! The employees are always so happy - like they had just won the lottery to be working there. We ordered the "Double Double Animal Style" (that means you get "special" sauce and sauteed onions). And after that, we ordered another one.

Leaving the Rain Behind (Day 6)

There was this rock and gem store just down the road from where we spent the night that David was really anticipating visiting. We took our time meandering the isles of shelving containing every rock, mineral, and gem you could imagine. David thrived on conversing with the owners about jewelry equipment and stone polishing techniques. He bought some shells that he wants to make me earrings out of. You see, David is a master craftsman when it comes to jewelry; and I get to be the blessed benefactor!
The next leg of the journey took us through the Avenue of the Giants. We wanted to get out and hike the trails, but frankly, the weather was just miserable.
We made the unanimous decision to keep driving until we got beyond the chilly rains of northern California. Just east of San Francisco found us drizzle free. A mall security guard directed us to the Burlington Coat Factory parking lot for a place to set up camp for the night. We met the security guard in the parking lot of a mall just as it was closing. He was trying to get help for this lady who's car needed a jump. We volunteered. The girl was so grateful that she handed us business cards for the hookah bar she and her husband owns and insisted we visit. We think she's Israeli. (Hookah smoking is all the rage in Israel).

Hippies,Cheese,and Bathrooms (Day 5)

We had to check out by 11:00 am, so it was "bye-bye" to the cabin for us and back to the road. The two nights we got to spend in the cabin spoiled me (Aysha) a bit. A bed, a shower . . . ahh, I could live there forever, but I had to mentally gear myself up for the road life (a showerless life mind you) ahead.
It was yet another rainy day. Rainy days seemed to follow us like a lost puppy as we've been making our way down the coastline. It's not that rain is so bad, but when you want to get out of the car and do things, it's not too fun.
David has always wanted to see this little hippy college town, Arcata. It happened to be right on our way, so we drove through it to check it out. This town definitely had its own unique flavor. Lots of dreads and Birkenstocks. Not surprisingly the health food store we stopped at was bustling full of people. Just for the sake of saying we've "been there, done that," we got ourselves a slice of gingerbread cake and a cookie. There's something about eating in a place that makes you feel like you participated in it, for me anyway.
Right as night was hitting, we scooted into the Loletta Cheese Factory. It just wouldn't be a full cheese factory experience without trying all the samples, and boy, did they have some good ones! Their cheeses were the regulars we all recognize (Cheddar, Monteray, Havarti . . . ), but they flared them up with creative mix-ins such as Chipotle, Habenarro, and Garden Spice. We picked up a few from the discount bin (Salmon Cheddar, Dill Havarti, and Smoked Cheddar).
By the end of the day we were ready for bed. The best place we could find to park for the night was this blustery, windy, rainy gas station out in the middle of nowhere. The windy gusts of rain were so strong that you'd think Katrina was coming. `
As we got nestled into bed, we noticed some suspicious activity going on around the buildings of the gas station. Cars were coming and going from a single lighted hallway of the darkened building. Shades were drawn on the windows so no one could see in. People would leave their motors running as another would emerge from the hallway to join them in their car only to sequel off like they were from the Dukes of Hazards. We were sure we had just discovered a prostitution ring. David got out his binoculars so we could get a better look at the people in their dirty business. Before long, nature called and I couldn't hold it any longer. I had to find a bathroom and the only option was somewhere around the building where all the prostitution was happening. This was my only choice, so I steeled my gaze, stepped out of the car into torrential windy rain and scurried over to find my bathroom. I decided to be brave and check out that lighted hallway. What did I find . . . one door read "MEN" and another read "WOMEN"
. . . that's right, we had discovered the gas station bathrooms! It's an odd, unsettling feeling to know that you were spying on people going to use the bathroom.

Fern Canyon (Day 4)

Ahh, finally a day to relax. Nothing to do but rest. We needed this layover day. Mostly, we spent the day resting and praying, but we did happen to make it out in time to hike the glorious Fern Canyon.
Imagine this . . . there you are standing at the bottom of this canyon with a small river trickling pass your feet. The canyon walls tower above you as ferns cascade down their surface like tumbling waterfalls. The canyon appears to be robed with a lush, green carpet studded with dew drops of diamonds as you look down its length. This is the kind of place that makes you wonder if hobbits and elves really do exist. Needless to say, we have to go back there!



On our way to the canyon we encountered a huge herd of elk munching grass in a field alongside the road. In the true spirit of heeding all the signs that read "Do Not Approach the Elk on Foot. They are Dangerous," David tried to get as close as he could so he could "take a picture." That's what I love about my adventurous man . . . he's dangerous!