The trip begins. Leaving SLC

Santa Rosa vineyard

Chuck and Mary Pat

Our trip has finally started. After much delay, a few SLC-Santa Rosa trips, and multiple good-byes to the same people we are finally off.

 It is a wild feeling sitting in the van and staring at the road, knowing that we have a wild year ahead of us.  For the past two years Jeremy and I would shake our heads asking: “Why haven’t we left yet?” Now we’re really off.
We packed up in Salt Lake and made our final goodbyes. It was hard giving hugs to my family not knowing when I would see them again. Especially Soroosh and Comi, God knows what kind of trouble they’ll get into while I’m gone. Although we were all sad, everyone was excited for us and sent us off with smiles.

The drive from SLC to Santa Rosa is quite beautiful once you pass Reno and get to drive up and over Donner Pass, then down into Sonoma wine country. Before that it is just a bunch of Nevada emptiness to stare at. The Van, like the champ she is, did just fine on the drive and brought us safely to Jeremy’s house.

Chuck and Mary Pat, over the last week, were kind enough to point out every last minute detail of the trip that we had spaced and then more than willing to get them all fixed up for us. With out them we might have ran into some funky problems down the road. We finished up in Santa Rosa with a very delicious rib-eye dinner with the two of them and set out on our way towards the ocean. This good-bye, as you can tell in the picture, was quite a classic one.

Although it was late, the ocean was misty and spectacular. In parts of Northern California Route 1 takes you deep through forest of Eucalyptus and Oak, right along huge ocean front cliffs, and through cozy little towns. We soon realized that Route 1 was not the road to be looking for camp spots, especially in a van. Every possible pull out had some sort of No Parking sign on it or a picture of a van like ours with a cross through it.  Luckily we found a sweet spot in Tomales, pulled over and hit the sack.

Today we stopped Gazos Grill just north of Santa Cruz on Route 1. This awesome restaurant has live music, amazing breakfasts, and a great view of the ocean. Stephanie, the owner was there working away with a big smile and making us feel right at home. If any of you are ever in the area this is definitely a place to eat at.

We want you all to know this website business is all new to us. Please be patient and as the trip moves along so will the quality of the site.

Thanks to everyone who helped get this trip on the road. We will have a huge toast to you all as soon as we cross the Mexican border. Jeremy and I are thinking a fine Tequila should be just right.

Thanks,

Nima

Morning View of Tomales Bay


Golden Gate

First view of the ocean

Gazos Restaurant