Travels With Charlize....a trans US journey

[Guest April Kristie]

There are slots in the grocery stores, the convenience stores, just about everywhere! And with that comes the price of spending more that you have, and addiction etc.

[Guest]

My nephew was in Vegas a few weeks back for a conference. Told me it was hot then. There are slot machines in the airport. Guess they want to remind you what you came to Vegas for . Sounds like the trip has been therapeutic for you both.

Don't forget the ones in the restrooms, too.<giggle>

Huggs,

Joann

[Guest Mia J]

I am so glad you are having such a great time. You ventured out of my traveled area when you went to Las Vegas which is someplace I really don't have much of a desire to go even though my job has said they were going to send me there for a project a couple of times.

I hope you have safe travels as you start to head back towards the east.

Mia

[Carolyn Marie]

I love Death Valley; I've been there at least three times. It's a very beautiful, unique spot, and the solitude is profound. See Scotty's Castle if you have the time. It's worth the extra drive. There is a really neat ghost town called Rhyolite just over the Nevada border that's worth a look, too.

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

[Charlize]

I wasn't too happy about Vegas but it gave us a spot to do laundry and rest up for a day. Death Valley was wonderful. Unfortunately we didn't go to Scotties Castle. It seems it isn't accessible and with my wife in a chair i pass by some things that i might do. Instead we had an awesome morning at StovePipe Wells watching the sunrise. Then over several mountain ranges with beautiful roads leading through climate after climate. When we hit 395 we went north to Independence to see the Japanese internment camp at Manzanar. I cried as soon as i entered the community room, now museum, that they built.

From there south and over the Sierra Nevada's to lake Isabelle. Another great mountain road. For the most part the traffic was very light and i just moved over to let the cars that were in a hurry pass us. Our 24' sprinter van isn't a sportscar. Some of the folks passing us seem amused by the chick driving Down the mountains is harder than up.

Hopefully tomorrow we will figure a way up to the Sequoia National Park. This has been the trip of a lifetime and we haven't turned around yet.

Must admit i miss the farm but WoW.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Guest MostlySwell]

I'm so glad that you continue posting about your journey.

You may not have access to sufficient internet to stream a 20 minute Ted Talk, but if you do, you'll enjoy this one on the Giant Sequoias. It turns out, they're are all sorts of ecosystems up in the canopy that have never been known before. The talk is given by Richard Preston. "Climbing the World's Biggest Trees." Yep, they climb them. But, more fascinating is the life of the sequoias.

Take care!

Fred

Edited October 24, 2014 by MostlySwell
Link deleted. Video is not TG-related. Members can search Youtube with the info given.

[Charlize]

Thanks Fred that was a cool video especially for an old girl who loves trees.

A tree hugger.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Guest]

for all the wonderful Posts, Charlize.

I am presuming that you will miss the address by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at your home in Princeton.

Huggs,

Joann

[Charlize]

Today i hugged my first sequoia. Such lovely old creatures and the world they create is magical. We left our campsite this am am went down into the valley then north on rt 65 past oil wells and orange and olive trees. Such huge commercial agriculture is a bit daunting and somehow after seeing how that water was taken from the people on the other side of the Sierra mountains it seemed wrong. Speaking of water i had to laugh at the signs on bridges saying no diving. There was no water below. Then i talked to a ranger and realized how bad the drought is here. We first went up into the national forest to a place called nelson's camp. Quite a drive on hair pin switchbacks following a small river up to about 5000 ft and then a single lane road to the grove. I enjoyed the drive but it was white knuckles as well. Worst part of the climb is the decent but at least in this case it was mostly on the inside of the road farthest from the cliffs. Now we are close to the entrance of the Sequoia National Park so i get to hug a few more big guys tomorrow. A nice shower and now bed. This is quite a vacation.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Michelle 2010]

You're quite a girl and inspiration Charlize. I have been talking to my new wife about what you two are doing. Maybe you have planted a few seeds :-)

Michelle

[Guest otter-girl]

Hi Charize.

Enjoying reading about your trip. I have no comprehension what heat like that is. If you need to feel cool think about the 50F it is here just now! :-)

Hugs

Rachel

[Charlize]

Speaking of temperature, we started today at about 80 in the valley. it felt cool and the sun was hot but very dry air. Just lovely. We then started climbing the Sierras again. by the time we were at 7000+ ft we ate lunch in a beautiful grove of sequoias at a temperature of 50. The air was crisp and a jacket and scarf felt great and the sun was even sweeter. Tomorrow we will be headed into San Francisco. i know we have members there and i'd love to say hi.

The trees were simply humbling. Thousands of years old and so beautiful; just another reason to be grateful for this trip.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Guest]

San Francisco. Seattle is just north from there you know.<giggle>

Huggs,

Joann

[Guest MostlySwell]

Oooooooh. If I were in San Francisco, I'd go to the Ai Weiwei exhibit at Alcatraz! Not that you need my advice. There's plenty of things to do in S.F. I just really ought to get there myself, before it closes in April.

http://www.npr.org/2014/09/27/351917730/confined-in-beijing-ai-weiwei-directs-alcatraz-exhibit-from-afar

Fred

[Charlize]

Joann i know and would love to head a bit north and also south to the Los Angeles area. Just small detours on the trip like a run to New Brunswick. Unfortunately even though i have loved the trip i do hear the barn calling.

Fred odd minds run in similar directions. I'm hoping to have time to do that today. We are a couple of hours out of town now but it may be possible to see it.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Guest MostlySwell]

Ha ha, Charlize. You're not the first to say I have an "odd mind," but at last you're including yourself in the category.

I hope you two get to visit the exhibit! And, of course, that you post some sort of description of your experience here.

Fred

[Guest]

I think I hear the goats calling as well Charlize.<giggle>

Huggs,

Joann

[gennee]

I am enjoying reading about your travels, Charlize. Reminds me of my younger days. My wife and I are planning a trip west next year or the year after.

[Charlize]

Well wifi again! We should have it here in sunny California and it has been sunny and beautiful. Yesterday we had lunch at Crissy Field under the golden gate bridge. What a beautiful way to see the bay. We then drove across the bridge and went out to Point Reyes where we camped overnight. Today after a nights sleep we drove around this magnificent world trying not to hit any bumps in the road. This is the apex of the San Andreas Fault. In 1906 the earth where we are sleeping moved 20 ft north in 45 seconds. There is a visitors center that has a photograph and has maintained a fence that was split in half had a nice walk around their path with my wife riding her power chair.

Then to other spots were we saw Elk. The bucks are in rut and have beautiful antlers. We watched one shrewd some brush to impress a few does. This doe was certainly impressed. The terrain in this national seashore is magnificent. Large working farms and wildlife share space with beautiful views of the pacific ocean. Unfortunately we are at the wrong time of year to see the wales, seals and sea lions that often fill the beaches.

It also turns out we are here in time to be in the midst of the world series. I'm not much of a fan but it's fun to see others so excited.

Tomorrow we actually scored two tickets to go see the Ai Weiwei exhibit on Alcatraz and found a somewhat reasonable motel in town where we hopefully can park our van.

More tomorrow if they let me off the island.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Guest]

Wifi and camping!

Who would have thunk.<giggle>

for all the wonderful updates, Charlize.

Huggs,

Joann

[Charlize]

Different things on this trip have made me cry. The Ai Weiwei exhibit did that for me. There is something about the prison of Alcatraz and thoughts of those who have, are and will suffer for beliefs not crimes. If we lived in a different time and place we would be in prison as well. Bing transgendered is a crime in some places. I wrote a postcard to Chelsea Manning. One of the exhibit folks took a picture of my wife and i to tweet to Ai Weiwei. What fun

If you are in San Francisco it is well worth the effort.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Guest MostlySwell]

So true!!! Imprisoned, tortured and killed!

Thanks for the review. And what an honor to be introduced to Ai Weiwei, even if done remotely. I imagine that he will feel inspired by your and others' images shared with him.

Chelsea Manning, as well, I hope will feel the love from the cards she receives. Did they have a long list of folks to choose from? After all, there are so many.

[Guest JennaR]

This may be unneeded advice, but if you happen to have a smartphone, there are apps available to turn it into a mobile hotspot (like FoxFi) to have internet wherever you go (though it also depends on your carrier). I've used my phone for a couple years now to tether my laptop and tablet too when I'm out and need the internet. It's not always super fast (4G areas are good though), but it works and is free (if the app works for you).

Jenna

[Charlize]

Jenna i would love to hang out with a younger person who understands some of the possibilities. It is amazing to me however how easy it is to get some internet in many places. Some of the areas we have been staying in don't have any cell phone service or other communications if a wire hasn't been run in.

The last weeks have been punctuated with huge changes in elevation with the problems but beauty found in the terrain.

Today we head south and east out of the south side of Yosemite. It is time to start heading east. This has been and coimtinues to be a pilgrimage to experience this country and to simply be myself in so many situations and locations.

It continues to be an amazing journey.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Guest]

Did you see Yogi?<giggle> or just Old Faithful?