Back To The Barn!!

I have to admit pulling into my driveway on Sunday August 8th was a very emotional day for me....the last 70 days on the road was one hell of an adventure and surely one that I will never forget!! I don't know the exact number but the 50 days camping gave me a new appreciation for the little things in life like, running water, cold food and drink, a dry place to sleep and the adjustment of sleeping on a bed to your back. I am so greatful for the new people I met along the way and the old friends and family I got to catch up with, but it's time to get back to work and put to use this brain that has been thinking and conspiring for some time now. Menu ideas, business plans and new social skills are going to make the next few months at the restaurant interesting but I am ready for the challenge. Below is a picture of where I spent my last night on the road, Sarah and Craig's new digs in Chicago....wow what a view!!


I haven't quite decided if I will keep blogging, or just update when I go on my next adventure but I will be sure to let those who followed me know!!

Rafting Trip and Meet Sienna Catherine Sonke!!

Here are a couple of pictures from the short but sweet overnight rafting trip we did outside of Riggins, where we drank and played boche ball and told stories amongst family, before I started the much dreded trip back to the muggy midwest!!



We knew it could be any day now but Nancy is a grandma and that makes me an aunt....Jeff and Casey welcomed their baby girl to the world on August 5th at 1:15 pm weighing 7.1 lbs and 20 IN!!!

~Sienna Catherine Sonke~

The DeGeorge Boys!! (This post is for Leslie)

I know the picture is a little late but it was just sent to me by MOM!!

~Marcus and Donovan (she's got the feeding all figured out!)

So-Cal

From Vegas I was headed to the big city of LA before heading up the coast. While there I got the pleasure of meeting the new DeGeorge family and catching up with those that live in the West. By far the cutest twin boys I have ever seen, Marcus and Donovan were so tiny and cute but it was great to catch up with Leslie and meet Dennis, sorry no pictures....I know im bummed to!!
I camped my way up the coast, I will try to provide at least a picture from each spot along the way, starting with an overcast picture of a sailboat from Redondo Beach!


~Cleared up a little for a nice sunset Picture!

~ Pismo Beach

~Big Sur


~Monterey




~Stinson Beach & Mt. Tamalplais
My turn inland was at the same place I turned inland when I drove down from Eureka in July so the entire California Coast was covered by myself and the Subaru via Highway 1...It was time to head back to South Lake Tahoe to Celebrate my 24th birthday in great company!! So thankful for the hospitality, roof over my head, shower and laundry facilities and great company, Thanks Jenn, Scott, Em, Cowboy and Butterfly, you guys are the best!!

Flagstaff, AZ and Sin City!!

This will be short and sweet because I am trying to catch the sunset, But I visited Flagstaff and was taken in and given a place to sleep, was fed a delicious Thai meal and had some great conversation with a great family friend and one of my sisters college roommates...Cinnamon and her to soon to be husband Jamie!! We even did some braiding of garlic picked from the backyard and went on a hike in the canyon near Sedona!!


Then it was off to Sin City....my studio in the new PH Towers was unreal and that just set the tone for the 2 days I would spend wandering and gambling the streets of Las Vegas!! And I did do a little recreational activity at Lake Mead which is where the sunset picture is taken!!

The National Park Tour!!

It's been a while since I have given my last whereabouts but i'm back!! Let me just start by saying that no pictures can do justice to what I have seen and the places I have been since Northern Michigan....I flew back to Denver where I picked up my car and put in a days worth of work at the "Sideways" House, Kate and John's new project in Golden, and Hung out with Mary and the Kiddos in Aurora!! Upon leaving I didn't make it very far down I-70 before I stopped for the night in Minturn to Spend a night of drinking margaritas in great company, below is a picture of the morning after feeling really Great!!

Next stop Moab and Arches National Park where the average temperature everyday was a nice 110 degrees, so all of my biking and hiking was done in the early morning or early evening to avoid passing out!



I needed to get some swimming in so what better place to head than Lake Powell, the very Southern part at that. There was plenty of cliff jumping and swimming to be done in this massive body of water!



Next Stop Zion National Park in Southern Utah...A place I had been when I was about 12 years old and didn't quite grasp the awesomeness of it all. Camping on Forest Service land is the way to go, you meet some real interesting folks and don't have to pay for a place to rest your head. One of the most exciting and beautiful hikes I have ever done, more like wading and swimming with a little bit of hiking...The Narrows, check it out!!




Last but not least the Biggest Canyon of them all...The North and South Rim of the Grand Canyon!! It's so called Monsoon Season in the Grand Canyon, whatever the hell Monsoon season is in the middle of Arizona, I was right in the middle of it, but it made for some pretty epic photos!

JRT Bike Weekend Success!!

My little dose of Michigan during the summer was awesome to say the least. The turnout for the 2nd Annual JRT Weekend was great, and I had a lot of fun being with all the special people touched by the life of Joshua Raymond Taylor!! We told stories, played bags and relaxed in great company on the best lake in Northern Michigan, none other than Elk Lake!!

The water was warmer than I had ever remembered it being so a lot of swimming took place, I needed to get exercise somehow. The spitting image of Josh provided a lot of entertainment for the weekend, Kai sure is growing up and has quite the sense of humor these days!! Below is a picture of Kai preparing breakfast for us all, sitting on the counter getting the fixings ready for French Toast....it sure was delicious.

I didn't quite capture as many photos as I would have liked over the weekend, but I am sure one of the other 20 people that took part in the weekend extravaganza did, but here is a group photo at the Taylor Tribe...minus a few people that were missing in action before I left to return down state to continue the Outback Adventure Road Trip!!

Life Changing Drive Down The Coast...Then off to South Lake Tahoe

When I save up enough money my first property to purchase will be somewhere in Northern California off of Highway 1 on the Coast....Holy crap if you have never been, it is a must see. Camping on the coast was unbelievable, perfect weather with the priceless sound of the ocean to fall asleep too!!

I have been trying to further my knowledge of breweries and there delicious beers on my little trip across the country and California has some great ones to write home about as well as some great recipes to bring back to the menu!!

Not to mention that the Sunsets on the coast are unreal...
From the coast I headed inland and stopped for a little visit at the old stomping grounds of Outpost Winery where I was employed for the 2007 harvest, it was great to catch up with the old co-workers, before heading to South Lake Tahoe to spend the 4th of July weekend with family!!

~Playing in the Truckee River with Emily and Cowboy

~4th of July Festivities at Lake Tahoe

~Emily's Birthday Dinner At Riva Grill and 4th of July Fireworks...Jennifer, Emily and I on the deck!!
The long trek from Tahoe back to Denver, so I can fly to Northern Michigan for the 2nd annual JRT weekend on Elk Lake with Family and Friends, looking forward to getting my fix of Michigan summer for a long Weekend!!

Bend-Over Oregon to Nor-Cal

My lack of communication almost bit me in the ass upon arrival to Bend...I had been out of contact with the world and without cell phone service for days. I should have thought about calling Rob and telling him to expect me but I like surprising people I guess you can say. My 24 hours in the intercoastal of Oregon was short but packed with fun and adventure. A little hike to a waterfall...a little bouldering and a lot of catching up with Rob who I hadn't seen in too long!!


From Bend it was a little south and west to the Coast...the long awaited sweet smell of the ocean, Eureka was the first stop, by way of the Redwood National Forest, to visit Dylan, long lost friend from b-town!!


More to come from the great state of California...