Pics - In with a Hyundai, out with a Blazer

Hello all!

We are home from our trip - unfortunately! We had a superlative time on the road - relaxing, forgetting about day to day responsibility and enjoying the country. The end of our trip was spent in Jackson WY in the beautiful Tetons - and then hoem to Seattle. The clutch blew out on my year old car in Idaho - something I probably couldn't accomplish in 25,000 miles if I tried. But it was really fun to drive a car on the highway that wouldnt go faster than 40 mph!!! My extended warranty was most probably not going to cover the clutch - because of a hith in the warranty. We were going to be stuck in Idaho for a week or so until they determined the extent of the repair, got the parts and fixed the car.

All the while Gregg and I had been talking about getting a larger car, that would make road tripping easier - I had been apprehensive about trading in my year old car because I thougt I woudlnt have to worry about repairs for years to come - but after this - I was happy to trade it in. Gregg and I went in with a blown out klutch and a Hyundai Elantra - and came home with a red Chevy Blazer - YAY! Gregg and I both were a bit against an SUV - but it didn't seem all too much different, environmentally speaking, than a van or truck, which were the other two cars we considered.

Pics - Heading Home

Hello all!
Not too much of note has transpired - We are putting a lot of miles on the old Hyundai - Driving through Kansas horizontally is hell!
We met up with an old friend of Gregg's in Denver - she turned out to be really great - and we all went on a hike about an hour outside Denver in the mountains. I forgot to bring my sneakers - so after 6 miles of walking through snow - my feet were frozen solid! Elsewise - the hike was beautiful!

Nextly, we headed north to El Dorado - a little climbing enclave about 8 miles from Boulder. We did one 5 pitch climb, which was super fun, and just about the easiest approach I can imagine.

In Boulder I caught up with an old friend from my Birthright Israel trip - it was an excellent reunion - worth it just to see his roommate who is a rubics cube wizard. He made all kinds of crazy patterns with the cube in minutes.

As we left Boulder, it was snowing - so we ditched our plans of driving through Cos finest in mountainry - and headed up for WY. Gregg was worn out, and as the day progressed, I realized I was as well. We spent the day in a motel in Cheyenne, relaxing - while it snowed outside.

We awoke this morning, and it was crisp and clear outside - I enjoyed the incredible views of WY's various mountain ranges as we made our way to the Tetons, where we are now. It is beautiful here - like most of WY.

Hope everyone is well!

Pics Homeward Bound

We have stopped for the night in Kansas, about 70 miles from the Colorado border. We couldn't take driving in this state for another moment - we gladly pulled over when we saw a sign for a cheap hotel with free breakfast. I can't believe 4 weeks have passed already! We finally are totally relaxed and enjoying the feeling of freedom. We are learning Spanish with flashcards in the car - reading a ton, sleeping in, staying up past 10 pm, and enjoying thinking creatively about future projects. Even though we haven't climbed, biked or moved our muscles as much as we had hoped, I am still, as always in love with the free life. I am working on the road a bit - but it barely even feels like work when I do it.

After leaving Ct - we hauled the 700 miles back to his house, for a final visit with his family. Both of his brothers and their girlfriends rolled in - and we had a blast sitting around, and having various stair jumping contests. Gregg is a fantastic jumper, as it were.

On a tip from a friend of a friend in Chicago - We hit up the City Museum in St. Louis. ANYONE TRAVELING THROUGH NEEDS TO CHECK THIS PLACE OUT. The City Museum is a 600,000 sq foot jungle gym for adults created into an old shoe company in St. Louis. It is 5 or 6 stories of playground created entirely from found objects within the St Louis municipal boundaries. There is a huge ball pit - abandoned planes, caves, tunnels, huge slides and things to climb on, around and down. The interior is designed with phenomenal mosaic work that wowed me at every turn. And, the final selling factor - it was open until 1 am!

See the site - and visit if you are near - it is worth it.

St. Louis City Museum
See Pics of some of the attractions...

I hope you are all doing well!

Pics of Climbing at the Gunks

We only had an afternoon - but Gregg and I dragged my mom and my doggie Winston out to the Shawanagunks in New Paltz. (The Gunks). This is the premier east coast climbing destination - and even though we only got 1 climb in, it was easy to see why. The foliage was incredible, the walk up to the climbing area (at least the one we visited) was beautiful, and the climbing was fun! We did High Exposure - a 5.6+ trad classic - it was an easy climb, but full of fun moves, and a spectacular view. Definitely some exposure though! There is one dicey move where you have to climb around a corner, completely hanging over nothing - an easy move - but definitely a mental moment!

Visiting moms and pops just got a whole lot sweeter!

Tomorrow we head back - we have a week and a half to get back to Seattle. Too soon!

My brilliant brother

My brother has just arrived in Buenos Aires, where he will be spending the next 2.5 months.
If you are interested in reading kickass writing, in a kickass blog, written by a kickass guy...go to JasonFarbman.blogspot.com . His blog is far more interesting and worldly than mine!!!

Pics of our scenic flight over NYC

We managed to squeeze in a visit with my old friend (and high school sweetheart) Jason King. We stopped by his house and saw his baby, wife and 2 step kids - then hopped in his car and headed to Oxford Airport, where we boarded a Cirrus for a scenic flight of NYC. Jason is cool as hell right off the bat, but it sure is fun that he happens to be a kickass pilot! And it also don't hurt that he has a private plane he can borrow at his leisure.

The weather was perfect for a flight. The skies couldn't have been clearer for viewing the city and all the fall foliage beginning to color.

Pics of NYC

Finally saw my best friend Kelly again, after a year! We had a whirlwind of a day in NYC - seeing as much as is possible in just a short day there. It was Gregg's first time there - but I think he got a pretty good outline of the area. Next time, perhaps we will actually walk through a museum, and not just into it! :)

Pics of DC

We finally arrived in DC - to our all expenses paid Marriott Suite, 1 block from the White House. I explored several nearby monuments the first night we arrived - and we went to dinner the next night for our 1 year anniversary (1 year, can you believe it!!)...but other then that, I was confined to the dungeonesque conference area. By dungeonesque of course I mean breakfast and lunch included.

Gregg roamed the city while I worked away - I didn't see much, but I will say - the beds in that hotel are the best in the universe!!!!

I love DC - I love the old feel of the architecture, the history, the grandeur...etc...Next time perhaps I will have a bit of time to enjoy it all! I never understood when people travel for work and never get to see anything - but now I do - at the end of the day, all I wanted to do was go in the jacuzzi and lay in my fluffy cloud of a bed!

Pics from Ohio, KY and MD

Here are some pics from our week in Ohio and in the Red River Gorge in Kentucky.
The climbing gym in Dayton is supremely cool. The gym is a gutten old church - stained glass windows in a climbing gym are def. a nice touch!

The Red River Gorge was excellent! Miguel's Pizza is a must-a-roo for anyone even remotely thinking of climbing there. They charge climbers a mere $2 per person per night to camp out in the back yard of the pizza joint. Not to mention the weirdo pizza offerings (tofu, hummus, sweet potato, to name a few) Phenomenal! As Gregg's brother Paul put it, it's like Never Never Land there!

The night before landing in DC for the conference, we drove through WV and MD, stopping for the night in Cumberland - which supprised the bejesus out of me with its phemonemalness.
The town has the most beautiful and grand architecture - stunning houses, murals, and old downtown - the works!!! I was sold, even at midnight in the dark. We slept in our car that night - which was more comfortable then I expected - even though I had steering wheel side....

New York

Samantha and I took the train into New York City where we meet out with Samantha's friend Kelly. The train took us to Grand Central Station were I was very plussed. The station is beautiful marble and there are the constellations on the ceiling. We had to wait a few minutes for Kelly (naughty Kelly) to arrive but then we were on our way.

The first stop on Kelly's Tour was Times Square. Then we were off to Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty. We then continued on, very plussed by the sights. Wall Street the Stock Exchange and the World Trade Center Site were next. The World Trade Center Site was very sad.

Next it was off to the Trump Tower, Columbus Circle, and Centeral Park all of which plussed me alot. We took a break in the Sheep's Meadow on a rock outcropping. It was a super nice day not a cloud in the sky. Kelly friend Jason arrived to help with the tour. Jason lead us through the park showing us the roller skate dancing area. I think I have found my new calling, these guys and girls are good. Then we saw the Monument of Balto the sled dog from that movie and then the Panamian Day Parade.

We had a small mediterranean lunch and some coffee. I had hot cocoa. Then we saw the MET and the Guggenheim, both were very impressive. The tour continued to Queens were Kelly and Jason live, we had a great dinner and saw the final stop on the tour Kelly's place. So, we saw all of New York in day.

Connecticut

We arrived in Connecticut at dinner time and had dinner with Samantha's father Allan, Stepmother Diane, and Half Sister Karen. Then went to Samatha's mother's house, where we talk for awhile and then went to sleep.

Samantha's family are all very nice and enjoyable to talk to.

Since arriving, we saw a sub par movie (The Lazt Kiss) and went out to dinner with Samantha's family so far. We will be going to see a band competition that Karen is in tonight, going to New York City via train tomorrow, hopefully a plane ride around the city on Monday, and then climbing at the Gunks on Tuesday.

D SEE

We wake up in Miguel's back yard after it rained all night. Paul, Rike, Samantha and I all go inside for some breakfast bananas and muffins. Paul is really excited about climbing so we agree to at least go and look to see if the rock is wet before we go leave. So we go to the Roadside Crag, which Paul and I have already been to. When we get to the rock there is already a large group of people top roping all the climbs we were going to do.

So..we get on a harder climb that is open, everyone gives it a try and has fun. We all get in another easier climb in and enjoy the sunshine.

We go back to Miguel's for some pizza. I get eggplant and sweet potatos, it was delicous. We say goodbye to my bro and his girlfriend and get back on the road. We are driving for only a hour or so and it starts raining again and it does not stop for the rest of the evening.

We make it to Cumberland MD by midnight and go to sleep in the car. It is already late and we need to start early. The 80 or so dollars for a hotel room won't be worth it, and there isn't a campground nearby.

Cumberland is a quant town that Samantha just loves, filled with grand houses and great architecture. We spend an hour or so walking around and enjoying the town.

We arrive in DC at noon and get checked in right away. Samantha meets with her boss to do some work for the conference that she is working. (Gasification Technology) That is the last I see of Samantha for the next 3 days.

I used the next 3 days to go for a run around the city and walk around the Smithionan museums and the great monuments - all of which were very impressive. I like the native American museum building the best.

Samantha and I also had a nice anniversery dinner in DC. Can you believe we have been dating a year!!!