And I would drive 4,000 miles...I did!

The Google Map says I drove 4,053 miles. I am pretty convinced that it was probably more than that.

After hanging with my old roommate in Denver (see last post), we got back on the road for several more days. Our stops included:

Rock Springs, Wyoming
Salt Lake City, Utah
Boise, Idaho
Portland Oregon

Salt Lake City was surprisingly cool, hip and gorgeous. After meeting some fellow travelers on the road, we stopped there for a late lunch and were amazed by the beauty of the city. Completely surrounded by snow Capped mountains, Salt Lake City is nestled within a low valley. We had a wonderful meal at the Lamb's Grill and set back out on the road after walking around for a little while.

We drove for the rest of the day in a rain storm that wouldn't dry up. Idaho was relatively boring, except for the Snake River which we drove over far too quickly in order to escape the rain. I of course shot a few games of pool once I reached Boise, and thoroughly enjoyed the Saturday night pool crowd in town.

Then the beauty began. The drive from Boise to Portland Oregon was so beautiful that words cannot describe it. The drive started out pretty, then went to beautiful, then amazing, and finally, indescribable. The highway runs right alongside the Columbia River and eventually reaches a place where waterfalls flow freely and in close proximity to one another.

After taking the scenic route and enjoying the natural beauty of Oregon, we reached Portland. I stayed with one of my favorite people in the world, met up with a very close girlfriend of mine, and looked up a friend that I haven't seen in 15 years. Portland was very cool, urban and aesthetically pleasing. It also reminded me of a cross between Williamsburg New York and Santa Cruz, California. Lots of hipsters, indie music, trees, organic food and granola. I was so happy to stay with my friend and his girlfriend, toast to the past, the friends we have lost over the years, and to life. We freestyled poetry until the crack of dawn, drank Jaeger until we were sick, and of course, shot some pool.

After meeting up with my friend in Vancouver for a great meal and reminiscing, I headed back to Portland to meet up with my close girlfriend. We sat around a delicious and modern coffee shop, waled around town, smoked cigarettes next to fountains, and caught up. Good times!

Next stop: the Oregon Coast. My thoughts: beautiful and overcast, good seafood and lots of character. We ate at an amazing restaurant in Nye beach called the Chowder Bowl and then hit the road to Oakland.
After a 12 hour drive, I met up with my former resident from New York and the party began. Normally she is my Austin connection, but she moved to California which worked out great for me.

We hung in San Francisco, made a trip up to Muir Woods, and had some great Pho in the city.

Now I am back in LA and leaving for Dallas mid-week for a job interview. Let the rolling continue...

On the Road Again

Last Saturday I hit the road again. I packed up the show and left New Orleans for the summer. The first portion of the trip consisted of 1,050 miles from New Orleans to Omaha Nebraska.

The drive was rural for most of the day. I spent a good deal of time driving through little highways through Arkansas. I even saw a sign that said , "Egypt 5 Miles" that I am convinced is the source of the term, "Bum Fuck Egypt." Not long after leaving that place I nearly got caught in a storm that seemed more like a brewing tornado. But what do I know, I am from California.

I stayed Saturday night in a little motel in West Plains, Missouri. After checking in, cleaning up, and motivating myself to move after driving nearly 600 miles by myself, I checked out the local honky tonk.
This place, called "The Spot" had several pool tables, a dance floor, cover band and nice bartenders. I met two people, one was from California and the other from Louisiana. So much for meeting the locals.

Sunday I headed through Missouri, to Kansas City, Iowa and then Omaha. I met up with my old friend Wes who toured me around town. I ate some great BBQ, saw Warren Buffet's modest little house, and of course, shot a few games of pool in downtown Omaha.

Tuesday we headed to Denver to hang with my old roommate. It's been a blast and my hangover will probably last for a few days. I saw downtown Denver, played pool a few times, and chilled.


Tomorrow the next leg of the adventure will begin, although I am not sure yet which way the wind will take us. Perhaps Yellowstone, but who knows?