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
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.
The roots of the sea oat plant can be 10 times the size of the plant above the sand. A grass like plant that whips around in the wind at the surface has deep ties into the sand it calls home. The roots are designed to allow the sea oat to survive on the sand dunes, where a large root surface area allows the scarce water to be found. The mosses that are so prevalent in the south, however, have no extensive roots to speak of. They are superficial, and even allow the plants to move from one place to another and survive. All of us have roots, some deeper set than others, that allow us to survive. Today I was headed for St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest city in the U.S. A place that has roots reaching back centuries, making the town what it is today.
The moon lit sea at Anastasia State Park Beach. May 15, 2011
I met a high school friend for breakfast at Datz, a tasty restaurant in Tampa, FL that is fairly popular in the area. The breakfast menu was varied, every menu item having a Datz personal twist. My friend and I both ordered a latte, which came in a soup bowl-sized coffee cup, lending to plenty of time to chat about our lives and catch up. The breakfast was delicious and afterwards my friend showed me their chocolate case: Rows and rows of hand-painted chocolates. I was unable to taste any, but they sure looked beautiful. I imagine they are bought more for the beauty than for the taste, each piece being artistically hand painted.
The hand-painted candies at Datz in Tampa, FL. May 15, 2011The biggest latte I've ever had at Datz in Tampa, FL. May 15, 2011
I have a blast driving my Jeep with the top down. This is near Orlando, on my way from Tampa to St. Augustine. May 15, 2011
The drive from Tampa to St. Augustine was beautiful. I was able to put the top back down on my Jeep after having it up for the night in Tampa (luckily, because a storm rolled through that night) and enjoy the sun and “natural” air conditioning that a highway drive is able to provide. At a gas station I met two other Jeep Wrangler owners. They knew about yesterday’s holiday (National “Go Topless” day for all Jeep owners), which of course made me smile. There is nothing quite like owning a Jeep….it’s like belonging to a special club, where everyone waves to fellow Jeep-owning strangers and we can all talk like we’ve known each other for years. If you are the adventurous type and you don’t own one, you should. You are seriously missing out.
Anastasia State Park Beach. The sand is so white! May 15, 2011.
After a quick stop at a citrus stand to get some local oranges, I arrived in St. Augustine to some familiar sites. First and foremost, the St. Augustine lighthouse (which I will go visit tomorrow, stay tuned for pictures and information on my next update). I checked into my campsite at Anastasia State Park, and when I first drove up to my tent site I knew instantly this would be my new favorite camping site.
My campsite at Anastasia State Park. May 15, 2011
Each site is tucked away in it’s own private alcove, similar to that of Tickfaw State Park a few days earlier, except this is even better: It’s on an island, and you can head the waves crashing on the beach in the distance. The beach is a short walk away, where the sand is white and the ocean sparkling. Every site has electric and water hook ups, which isn’t necessary for a tent, but nice for people like me who have a website to update and need to recharge electronics. The price isn’t terribly high for what it offers, either. Anastasia State Park is the perfect place to stay if you are looking to camp on the coast.
The Santa Maria Restaurant in St Augustine, FL
I decided to have dinner at Santa Maria’s, a unique restaurant I dined at my last trip to St. Augustine in January of 2007. It turns out May is a much better time of year to dine at Santa Maria’s in St. Augustine: You get to feed the fish. The restaurant is located on the end of a pier with a great view of Lion’s Bridge. The tables along the outside of the restaurant, again the windows, are provided with a little hatch where you can drop pieces of bread, provided by the basket full, into the water and watch the various fish come up to enjoy. I guess you can say you are fattening up the fish that you may eat later.
The window you open to drop bread to the fish at Santa Maria Restaurant in St Augustine, FL. May 15, 2011Name this bird: in St Augustine, FL at the Santa Maria Restaurant. May 15, 2011
The fish aren’t the only ones to enjoy the bread. Various birds, including pigeons, crows and another colorful little bird I do not know the species (readers, identify below! J ). Kids really enjoy this activity (and the kid inside me), and I had the pleasure of meeting a 1st grade girl who enjoyed every minute of it. She and her family were visiting from Pennsylvania and we had a wonderful conversation over dinner. Another great thing about being on the road: you meet a lot of friendly people.
The little girl feeding the pigeons at Santa Maria Restaurant in St Augustine, FL. May 15, 2011
After dinner I headed back to Anastasia State Park so that I could sit on the beach and take some night pictures. The moon was nearing full this night and it lit up the beach and the waves. I was able to enjoy a peaceful time alone on the beach, watching the waves crash and although the sky was mostly clear the lightening illuminate the horizon in little bursts-a storm nearly 200 miles away. I didn’t even need a flashlight, though I guess when you are a caver nothing is dark in comparison. The stars, moon and city lights are more than enough illumination in the night against the contrast of the white sands of the St. Augustine coast.
The coast of St. Augustine is held together by the roots of the sea oat, a 6” plant having roots up to 5’ long. Whlie we all have roots of different depths, we do all have roots. They don’t only keep us grounded, providing for us- They are an integral part of our society as a whole. Everyone plays a role in this world, some of us are nomads like the spanish moss that can easily be transplanted, and some of us have roots reaching deep into the sands of our native homes. Either way, the nutrients we have gathered from each place we live sustain us for a lifetime- each place becomes a part of us. It’s why I believe so strongly in traveling for education. A traveler who truly takes the initiative to learn about the geology, environment and culture of each place they visit is adding a little bit to themselves each time. I think too many people consider traveling a vacation by traditional terms. A true traveler isn’t meant to get away and do nothing- they enrich their lives, and thus everyone around them, by absorbing the knowledge of other places- and sharing.
These flowers decorate St. Augustine everywhere. A bee is doihg it's job. May 15, 2011I'm enjoying the sun at Anastasia State Park in FL. May 15, 2011.Lion's Bridge in St Augustine, drawn up every half hour to let ships through.A flower along the walk in St. Augustine, FL. May 15, 2011St. Augustine Lighthouse sits just beyond the ships in the harbor. May 15, 2011The moon rising at Anastasia State Park Beach at Duck. May 15, 2011Sunset at Anastasia State Park May 15, 2011My little camping buddy at Anastasia State Park, May 15 2011
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.
