Hey Family,

So I figured I should write and tell about the trip that Buffy and I have been on for the last 2 weeks. So as most of you know we have some really good friends that live in Irvine, CA (Chad and Kristen Anselmo). Anyways. we decided to go on a road trip with them. So on the 17th we flew down to CA to their home. Monday, we drove down to S.D. and went to the La Jolla Cove then to dinner at Tom and Tracey's. It was great to see Marnie and the Tom Stinches. On Tuesday we went, of course to Disneyland and had fun there. On Wednsday we left to drive back up to Portland with the Anselmo's. We did not just drive up the I-5, we went the long and beautiful way using the 101 and Highway 1 the whole way.
The first day we made it to the Monteray area with stops at the Hearst Castle and Fisherman's Wharf in Monteray. I have to say that Hearst castle is amazing but Buffy and I agree that it is not very warm feeling. The pools are beatiful though. It was amazing that they worked on it for 28 years and it was never finished.
The stop at Watsonville was an experience the first night. So we made reservations on Expedia for a "Inn" called the Watsonville Inn. Driving up to it we were sketchy right away but we figured we would give it a try. So we checked-in and Chad and I went to the Gas station to fill up and as we were out Buffy calls me and says "We have to get out of here. There are Bugs in the beds, the floors are filthy and the bed covers have burn marks". So we went back and checked out with some agruement with the manager and went to Holiday Inn Express which was great and gave us a suite for the price of a standard because of the situation and they promised me a standard on the phone but did not have one. Its a story we won't forget.
Anyhow the next day we went through SF and stopped at the Golden Gate. Then we proceeded to go through the Redwoods stopped every so often to take pictures. That day ended in Crescent City, CA with no real incident.
The last travel day we drove the Oregon Coast through Newport and Lincoln City and stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory before we headed inland back to home.
The last week we have been showing the Anselmo's the great NW. We went on the Mt Hood loop and saw Multnomah Falls and Timberline lodge. We went to Seattle and saw the Space Needle, Ballard Locks, Aquarium and Pikes Place Market. We were also able to go up to Mt St Helens and go on a boat ride with Mom and Dad down the Willamete into downtown Portland.
The whole trip was amazing and we could not have asked for better weather. It was a trip that we will always remember and to be able to do it with such great friends was wonderful.
Now I get to have my first day at The Sports Authority on Monday and I hope all goes well. Here are also a few picture of the trip that we took.
Take care!!