C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A

Give me your best Arnold impersonation for that one. “Grey Davis, GET OUT!” or pick your favorite California themed song and start humming it.

The only way I could tell that I had entered California was the tiny sign on the border that says “California welcomes you!” I remembered what Ted had told me the week before, about how Oregonians hate Californians, but Californians can’t tell nor do they even bother to notice.

Somewhere between Astoria and California, the temperature had rapidly started to decline. It almost felt like fall. I Stopped in Crescent city and talked with a few locals about the matter and they told me it rarely gets into T-shirt and shorts weather on this section of the coast, and that I was entering the fog belt. It would only be a short drive from here to the Redwood State Parks. The only thing I can say about Redwoods, is they are aw inspiring. I have never felt more insignificant then when standing next to these massive and ancient trees.

I decided to stay at hostel inside the park boundaries for the evening. It was a quant little house and it was only a few hundred yards from a tiny black sand beach. It was there that I met two girls incredibly interesting girls from England, and one very odd girl from Eugene Oregon. The two girls from England were a delight to talk to. I always love talking to people from England, I find the different jargon they use to be enchanting to listen to. We talked for a good portion of the night on an array of topics, from politics, to pop culture and English comedy. They were both headed north to Seattle, so we exchanged places to go and see.  

Also staying at the hostel was an odd family from Pennsylvania. The oldest son was of the Heavy Metal persuasion and didn’t seem to be enjoying himself on his family excursion. It took me back to my youth, when my father took all us down to Disney World for a family vacation, and my oldest brother wanted no part in it. I half expected to hear the father of this family yell out “are we having family fun yet?”

In the morning I was once again awoken early by a fellow bunkmate who’s alarm clock went off at 6AM. I had decided to get up and perhaps once again get and early start to my day, but somewhere between the fog and not being able to get a cup of coffee, I laid back down for a 5 minute nap, and when I came to again it was 9AM and almost time to vacate the premises.