North California

Ashland is a beautiful little town on the interior border of Oregon and California. We were hosted my Amy's friend Malena, in her recently bought home, with a garden, right next to the old (and unused) train tracks. The town is a tourist destination for rich californians, specially this time of year because of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. We didn't see any plays, we walked around the town and bought new shoes instead. We also played in the old train tracks to fulfill my train fetish...

(old train in Ashland OR)

On our way to Ashland from Brookings we drove through Stout Grove and witnessed the magnificent redwoods. The little dirt road was built to show off the trees, and it was lovely to feel very very small among such beauties. It was only a 4 mile drive until we hit the paved road towards Ashland, and we bordered the Smith river for a few miles after that. The amazing thing about the rivers in Oregon is that it is the only source of swimmable water, besides certain lakes, in the state. The pacific is too cold all year round. I think the Oregonians have develop an incredible love for rivers, and they know how to take good care of them. They trade river hole locations on the internet, they pass them on from friend to friend, or they just keep the secret to themselves. Nature is very well kept in this part of the world. It gives me hope for humanity.

(little Ramón in the Redwoods)

We drove from Ashland to Oakland (near San Francisco) on Monday. The drive was long, and the high temperature didn't help us, nor Ramón. He was overheating a little, so we stopped. In a casino. I know, we never learn our lessons... BUT! this time i actually pulled my blackjack skill out of my hat and won 115 dollars. Which paid for gas, oil and dinner. The lucky event helped the drive into the city (HELL) - but the stay here has been great. I had good interviews with both Berkeley and Standford and I could get excited about living here. I'm just not going to just yet...

Today we drive to lower California on R-101. Tonight we camp midway between here and Santa Barbara. After that, family in Ojai and Irvine, near LA.

Its been a month since i left New York.

I'm not tired!