Travel Journal - Day 1

» September 16, 2004 10:23 AM by Nicole

This past summer was a doozy. I was to embark on a journey across the country in July. My friend Jessica and I wanted to drive from Los Angeles to New York on a Thelma & Louise-esque road trip filled with adventure, good times and great whiskey. We were going to travel up the coast, say goodbye to the Pacific Ocean, and then trek across ten states to the Big Apple. That was the plan. It didn稚 take long for that plan to unravel and for this trip to become one of the worst/best/worst/best experiences I致e ever known. These are the entries from my travel journal.

DAY 1 - Do We Know the Way to San Jose?
Friday-July 15th, 2004

LIFT OFF - We left at 9:15am, taking RT 5 to 46. I知 wearing a scarf in my hair because when women get together to 塗ave adventures,� they don scarves. Jess bought us matching bracelets for our trip. I said, 徹h, that痴 so sweet,� and then, 典hat値l be how they identitfy our bodies when they池e brutally murdered and flayed by a drifter.� We both laughed and laughed and agreed that it was not an appropriate joke.

DAMN! - We missed the 46. It snuck up on us! We had to backtrack through olive trees, tractors and dust clouds on our way to Devil痴 Den. Yes, that痴 right. We池e lost, we have matching bracelets and our detour is to DEVIL担 DEN. We are officially in the beginning of a terrible, horrorizing slasher film. (Probably directed by David Defalco.)

BACK ON TRACK - I did make a wrong turn and accidentally drove the wrong way on the wrong highway for, like, a second. But we池e all good. We致e stopped at Gorda Gas Station for a quick pee and some coffee. The coffee came in the same cups we use at work. Meh.

HELLO SAN FRANSCICO - We致e made it to our first official stop. The Super 8 Motel where we are staying does not have parking. Jess hit the curb on Van Ness trying to bang a U before a bus came careening toward us. I have not been bored once on this trip. I知 having fun and fearing for my life all at the same time. YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FOOD and MARGARITAS - Fisherman痴 Warf. We ate at the most wacky tourist trap restaurant called Joe痴 Crab Shack. The staff wore shirts that said, 鄭t Least I Know Where I Got My Crabs.� I am so honored that Jess asked ME to come along on this trip. It痴 already spectacular. I知 having so much fun.

THE PERFECT CAPPER- It痴 bedtime, but I can稚 sleep because our room has CABLE TV! I love hotels! And what痴 this? A SOUTH PARK MARATHON? What a bonus! I致e never seen THE PASSION OF THE JEW. Omigod. Comedy gold. This is going to be such a good trip.

Or is it?

To be continued...