I think my pictures speak for themselves why I prefer to visit the great outdoors than visiting the concrete jungles. The great expanse of the “wild” west makes any person feel insignificant, and appreciative, of the world. Yet here I find myself today in the concrete jungle, visiting my brother and taking time to see one of my favorite California beaches, Santa Monica. I was born very close by and so this is where it all started for me. Surprisingly, where it all started for Santa Monica was a natural beauty.
The popular National Landmark, Santa Monica Pier. July 5, 2011
It all started for Santa Monica with a natural spring that was used by humans dating back before the transition of B.C. to A.D. in year keeping. The area was sacred to natives and, like most of our country’s geography, was taken over by pioneers. Today Santa Monica sits at the western end of one of the most iconic trails of concrete in the U.S.: Route 66.
The western end of Rt 66. July 5, 2011The Promenade in Santa Monica, CA. July 5, 2011
It is hard to believe there is anything left of nature when walking through the shopping districts of Santa Monica. The Promenade is full of stores selling t-shirts for a couple hundred dollars and expensive couture labels. I spent some time window shopping in the area (certainly not spending any money on the ridiculously overpriced merchandise) and then headed back to the beach. Although surrounded by concrete and people the beach is the one place that is difficult to get away from the beauty that has always been here. Looking down the coast you can’t help but soak in the view of the mountains in the distance with the waves crashing in front of you. The pier, of course, offers my favorite local snack, a churro. Mmmm. Of course if you’ve read any of my previous journeys (like my 2009 visit) you already know my love of churros.
Churros on Santa Monica Pier
Despite being surrounded by the concrete jungle if you close your eyes as the sun sets and the beachgoers leave to prepare for their nighttime activities you can focus in on the waves and imagine visiting a few hundred years ago when concrete was a thing of the future. The concrete all came to be because of the beauty of nature that was here before. Some of it is hidden between the walls of commerce and population but it always ends at the beach. As long as you keep looking west you can see what beauty inspired so many people to flock here, even before we colonized America…
Let’s see what I can get into tomorrow…
Nicole
Santa Monica Beach July 5, 2011The flowers were in bloom on the Promenade in Santa Monica. July 5, 2011
Many emblems of the world hold multiple meanings. It is of no surprise that a rainbow holds various meanings of symbolism. A rainbow can be a sign of success after a hard time or a symbol that it is ok to be yourself even if you stand out from a crowd. It can also be a way to describe something that has many different faces and colors. A rainbow expresses itself by claiming that it is not strictly the embodiment of one self, but many. Olympic National Park is also a park of many colors- and yes, it even has rainbows.
The Hoh Rainforest of Olympic National Park. June 26, 2011
It comes as a big surprise to many that the continental United States is actually home to a rain forest. The Hoh rain forest located within the protective confines of Olympic National Park receives an average of twelve FEET of rain. This was the first color of Olympic N.P. that I was able to experience, only a few miles south of my campsite in Bogachiel S.P.
Me, peaking out from a Sitka Spruce in the Hoh Rainforest. Olympic National Park June 26, 2011
The lush rain forest is a lot like you would expect. Temperatures are moderated by the lower elevation and maritime effect of the nearby coast; it rarely drops below freezing or above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Mosses, ferns and lichens grow all over everything, from the expected soil to the trunks of trees and other woody plants they can cling their sticky roots to. The Sitka Spruce trees are probably the most sought trees to visit, they tower into the sky by more than 20 stories.
The circular rainbow of Olympic N.P.'s Hoh Rainforest June 26, 2011
Looking up into the sky- although the dense rain forest does make the sky patches few- often gives you a view of a rainbow halo. The mist from the humid rain forest rises into the sky, forming a circular rainbow that encompasses the sun. Nearby is the Hoh River, and mud roads lead to the cobbled riverbed that you can drive up onto, right up to the river’s edge. It is a beautiful sight (and a lot of fun for those who drive Jeeps!)
Driving in the mud puddles of Hoh Rainforest. June 26, 2011
The colors of Olympic National park don’t stop there. As I headed south along the coast I was able to visit the park’s 73-mile long wilderness coast. Here the forest meets the Pacific in grand views overlooking rocky cliffs, tide pools, towering rocks in the surf, and boneyards of giant Sitka Spruce and other trees that accumulate at river deltas.
A stream outlet and tree boneyard in Olympic National Park's Coastal Wilderness. June 26, 2011
The coast is breathtaking, a stark contrast against the enclosing, green walls of the rainforest, it opens up into a great big sky and the sea that stretches further than the eye can see. Wildflowers line the cliffs as you look down upon the sandy beach below, and in the distance islands interrupt the endless waves of the Pacific.
The Olympic N.P. Wilderness coast. Washington State, June 26, 2011
Looking back inland you can see the mountainous portions of Olympic N.P., some peaks are still topped in snow, an alpine ecosystem less than a half day’s drive from the temperate rain forests and coastal beauties. Not only does the park have rainbows, it is a rainbow itself.
Tomorrow I will be visiting two more colors of the rainbow of a geologic world- ones I have yet to see in person. What colors will I see tomorrow? I guess you will have to come back to find out.
-Nicole
The tree boneyard in Olympic N.P.'s coastal wilderness. June 26, 2011
Even when thousands of miles away, you can feel as if you are only a few miles away from home. During this trip I have found myself in unfamiliar territory many times, in places that I hadn’t even done much prior research on. A few others I had been to once or more before and I knew what to expect. No matter where I was, near or far, I always found something that made it feel like home. You can been thousands of miles away from familiar territory, but since the world is so integrated it can feel like you are right next door.
Sitting on the coast of Kennebunkport, ME May 25, 2011
I was born on the west coast, and although I currently situate myself in Missouri I have found myself traveling to the Wild West many times, and it feels familiar to me. The East coast, notably the New England coast, has always been a whole new bird. Strange and different from the warm waters of the Pacific. It was in this strange land that I had ventured yesterday, and found myself gazing upon the waters in this morning.
It turns out that as many differences that the West coast and the East coast have, there are still some simliarities. What? Well the answer is perhaps so simple that it seems ridiculous to state it, but they are both coastal environments. They both offer that same salty air serenity that many of us crave as a vital piece to our mental well being. The sound of the waves crashing, the feel of the ocean spray in the air. Thousands of miles away from the golden coast and I felt like I was in the same place, especially as the sun was shining on a warm Spring day.
Kennebunkport, ME Morning of May 25, 2011
As I traveled west towards my destination for the night, a relative’s home in the country of upstate New York, I saw many things that made me feel like even less space was between I and my home. Many of the trees were similar to those of the midwest, agriculture dotted the land (although much sparser than that of the midwest), and road-kill deer littered the sides of the road. When I reached Lake Champlain it was flooded, much like the flooding of the midwest right now. Homes sat in a couple feet of water and fields looked like lakes, the water only a foot from the railways and roadbed. Was I really halfway across the continent?
The flooding of Lake Champlain, NY May 25, 2011
The differences were certainly more noticeable. The mountains were much taller, animal Xing signs warned not only of deer, but also moose and bear, roadway outcrops had more igneous and metamorphic rocks than sedimentary. Gas stations and restaurants of unfamiliar names appeared on highway signs and of what agriculture I did see it was predominantly livestock as opposed to crops. I was certainly in a different place, so why did I feel so close to home?
I think sometimes we spend so much time looking at the differences that we miss out on the similarities. We point out the items that stick out like a sore thumb to what we are accustomed to, focusing on them. We forget to acknowledge that all of these places, or people in some cases, are of the same world, same universe, and even the same matter. While travel is usually directed towards finding something different, perhaps we should also consider what is the same. I think our world would be a much better place if we all realized that every place, and every person, has something in common with another. Next door or thousands of miles away, our lives are intricately woven together in this universe.
What we do today can have effects on others for years to come. Whether it be an action, a voiced opinion, or a product of our creative mind, we all have an input on the way the world revolves. Each of us has a part to play in this small world, each of us our strengths and weakensses. It is up to us to determine what role we can play best to contribute. Even though we all have our unique attributes, we are all of the same place- we should never forget that.
-Nicole
Travel is a complex activity that can originate from many different inspirations. Some of us travel to get away, others travel to learn, some travel to experience. No matter what the reason of travel, we all chose to go somewhere specific for one reason or another. Some of the places we visit because we have seen advertisements for them, read about them in books or online articles (such as this website, geojeep.com), or what we have heard from family and friends. My trip to Kennebunkport, Maine was one of the latter, and I dedicate this particular spot to my late paternal grandparents.
Me, sitting on the shore of Kennebunkport, Maine. May 24, 2011The ocean spray as the waves hit the cliffs of Kennebunkport, ME. May 24, 2011
They loved to travel, and went on as many trips to many places within the U.S. They passed away within 4 months of each other a little over a year ago, but I still remember clearly what how they described Kennebunkport. They had told me several times that someday, if I had the chance, I should visit the area. Today, I followed their advice and did just that.
Kennebunkport, ME coast. May 24, 2011
Kennebunkport Maine is along the Atlantic coast, almost as far south as you can get for the state. The coast mostly consists of rocky cliffs, constantly bombarded by the waves of the ocean, water spraying up high into the air when if find no other place to go. There are a few sandy beaches, but I would have to say this coast is not about basking in the sun and swiming in the sea: It’s about absorbing your surroundings, and drinking ni what a coastal environment has to offer for your health. I chose to play most of the day on ear, having booked a hotel less than 10 miles away at a Comfort Inn. I looked at the map and found the road closest to the ocean and simply headed in that direction.
Standing on the seaside cliffs of Kennebunkport, ME. May 24, 2011
I was pleasantly suprised by a beautiful coast, lined by granite outcrops that cut sharply down to the cold sea. Little did I know at that moment, but almost all of the area was just as scenic. As I followed the roads into the afternoon I couldn’t find a single spot that wasn’t as picturesque as the last.
I chose to eat dinner at a restaurant with a view of the ocean. Pier 77 was located on the coast, with a view of Cape Porpoise harbor where lobster boats come in during the season. It was here that I ordred lobster for the first time, and I have to say it was delicious.
Pier 77 restuarant, near Kennebunkport, Maine. May 24, 2011The view from my table at Pierr 77 in Maine. May 24, 2011Lobster in Maine. at Pier 77 near Kennebunkport. May 24, 2011
The chef had everything perfectly prepared, the greens with the perfect seasoning and everything was always artfully placed on the plate. My server was by far superior to most I have ever had the pleasure of dining with, especially considering he knew very well how to handle a single patron. Many try to overcompensate attention to a diner who is eating alone, but he had just the right mix of talk and space. I orderd a desert, the creme brulee, of which they serve garnished with an orchid blossom.
The Creme Brulee @ Pier 77 near Kennebunkport, ME. May 24, 2011If you haven't tried creme brulee, I encourage you to do so. Make sure you have a good chef. Pier 77, May 24, 2011Beign the orchid lover I am, I felt the need to reassemble my garnish. May 24, 2011 @ Pier 77 in Kennebunkport, ME
I finished dinner just in time for sunset, and as I rushed out the door to make sure I caught the sunset on my camera, to be viewed eternally, I noticed something to the east: A rainbow. This marks the third I have seen in this trip, and for something that is touted as so rare I am very thankful for this symbol of success. Everytime I see one I feel reassured that everything will be ok. I have been through many storms, but I will always find a rainbow afterwards.
The rainbow of Maine, May 24, 2011The partial rainbow outside Pier 77 in Kennebunkport, ME. May 24, 2011Sunset at Pier 77 in Maine. May 24, 2011
Tomorrow I will head from Maine to upstate New York to visit a relative of mine in the country. I can’t gurantee any rainbows, but I can gurantee this: Life is full of adventure, and the those who are truely successful in life are those who are active in the constant motion. We can’t control everything, but we can control our reactions to what life throws at us. Success is measured in our own eyes, and by no one else. Tomorrow is simply a promise to myself that I will succeed another day. You should do the same. I’ll see you there…
-Nicole
One of the many nice amenties you get for paying more for a hotel: An indoor pool at the Comfort Inn of Biddeford, ME (near Kennebunkport)The anchor dedicated to George Bush along the coast in Kennebunkport, ME. May 24, 2011The lobster ship dock near Pier 77 near Kennebunkport, ME. May 24, 2011A picture I title "Finne". May 24, 2011 in Maine.
Although I tried to schedule most of my trip not have a full day’s worth of driving, there are a few parts where I couldn’t avoid this. Today is one of those days, as I had a 9 hour drive from Gulf State Park to a family friend’s house just North of Tampa. Although the drive was long, it is important to remember that it is less about the destination and more about the journey. This trip, all 14,000 miles of has no singular destination. It is a journey. An adventure that doesn’t end when I arrive at a place I call home. It will enlighten, educate, culture and inspire me for the rest of my life.
May 14, 2011 at Gulf State Park Campgrounds, AL- The dock at the lake
I took one last look over the lake at the Gulf State Park campgrounds before I left for the day. I was soon to find out there is much more to Gulf State Park than what I saw at the campgrounds. Beaches line the highway as you start heading east towards Florida. They are your beautiful sand-dune trimmed beaches with white sand and wood picket and wire fences to keep troublesome tourists from trampling the dunes and the sea oats. It was beautifully sunny, so I had taken the top on my Jeep down again after faring the rains of Louisiana. I was certainly enjoying the sunny rays of the sunshine state when I crossed state lines.
One of the several Gulf State Park beachers. May 14, 2011There's something beautiful about the weather-worn sea fences.... Gulf State Park Beach May 14, 2011
Driving along I-10 there were several rainstorms I passes through, including one thunderstorm. Something amazing takes place when you are driving on the interstate going 70 mph: Most of the rain just sweeps right over you. I had to use a towel to wipe off the inside of the windshield a few times, but I was having the time of my life- both because of how refreshing it felt to smell the rain and experience the storm without getting soaked, and observing all the strange looks I got from other drivers along I-10.
The abundant spanish moss that covers trees in the South. (In this case, Florida near Tampa)Orange trees in Florida, near Tampa
As I headed south along I-75, and then along a county road, I started seeing more of the stereotypical Florida: Large trees draped with Spanish moss and orange trees both in groves and randomly dotting the side of the highway. I met up with family friends, who treated me to a dinner at Ruby Tuesday, and then we chatted around the TV about all sorts of things. It turns out one of them makes some spectacular soap, homemade of goats milk. If you are looking for some great organic soaps, visit www.simplycaprine.com. They also make quite a few other products, all organic and made by hand.
One of the many organic products offered by simplycaprine, out of Florida
Florida is a very large state, with a transition that you can experience if driving from the northern part to the southern tip. It starts as a stereotypical “deep south” climate, as I just described, to a palm-tree covered tropical environment surrounded by the bright blue Caribbean. I may have only been able to experience the driving of Florida today (and the hospitality of local friends) but tomorrow I get to drive across the state to its eastern coast, to stay in a place I absolutely adore: St. Augustine.
Me, at the dock at the lake of Gulf State Park Campgrounds, AL. May 14, 2011
The view of the beach dunes on the drive from Gulf State Park to Florida. May 14, 2011
The boardwalk to one of the several Gulf State Park beaches.Watching the waves crash is so soothing. A Gulf State Park Beach (Alabama), May 14, 2011My Jeep, "29", enjoying the drive through Florida.
