Big cities, big trees, and big rocks.

We departed from Las Vegas, as a group breaking even (some of us more lucky than others, though they might claim more skilled) and 10 lbs heavier for it. Though what we lost in money, we also lost in sleep, so we made way for LA groggily through the desert.

We made it to LA with a hunger that only pork, soft boiled eggs, and duck fat could fulfill. We met Xue first and we exchanged sweaty, sweaty hugs. His apartment was mostly new and mostly empty in the heart of Black Greenwich Village. We all made way to the noodle shop, meeting Nick Rodriguez. We learned about both of their lives, and I'll leave it to them to share the salacious details, but its sufficient to say that I was thoroughly impressed (and slightly skeptical).

The next day we split up, hiking through what Kevin Bacon calls "dogshit park", though I thought it was really nice. We learned more about Nick and his experiences with nurses in Mexico (sorry for letting it slip Nick). We went on to do some bouldering, and we got a first hand experience of LA-young-people networking. Someone even remembered me cause apparently I was there the week before. Who knew? Not me. Nicks friends and roommates were really nice and down to earth, despite climbing well above it (pun, sorry). We met back up with the others for french toast and sandwiches, the perfect after workout snack. Also, Michael saw Justin Long, or a Justin Long lookalike (but in all the celebrities to look like, why pick Justin Long?).

We played in a park before settling on happy hour beers and a UCLA comedy show. Spoiler, by the time we all, including Xue and Allison, got there, all that was left to do was sit around and spin. But all was not lost, there was Mediterranean Food on the horizon. Spo "fucked around and ordered a baby" while the rest of us ordered the components of a baby. We picked up some beers and sat around Xues floor, while I slept on it, drinking and talking.

We left for Seqouia the next day. A long drive out of LA (*mandatory "LA traffic sucks" comment here). We got there somewhat late and decided to throw caution to the wind and buy 200 dollars worth of groceries, beer, and wine. After some settling, we enjoyed Jacks Birthday Coconut Cream Pie. The next day we took a few hikes and saw some big ass trees. Like really big. BiG. The seqouias were stunning, as was the whole landscape. We finished that day off with burgers, veggies, and more PIE!!!!!!!!

We departed the next day and stopped to see the biggest of big trees. The General Sherman. It was big (sorry if this sounds ironic or disaffected, literally the only adjectives that comes to mind is big, great, grand, huge, etc.) We then left for the flames of Yosemite, but not Fresno. After valiant search for camping, we settled for a hotel the first night.

The next day we made it to the park and decided to hike North Dome. Possibly my favorite hike. It was gorgeous, absolutely. At the end of the day, we made way west and looked in vain for an empty campsite until we stumbled by old joes camping site (hes real friendly, just ask his friend Jonathan Glory). There was a pool, a gold sifting station, and a petting zoo! And in the morning, a strong odor. After the night we made our way further west to San Francisco.

Canyonlands, Zion, and Las Vegas

Utah isn't all Mormons and salt lakes, y'know! They have arches to climb, magnificent sunsets, and crows tailing your every move. From traversing mountains to wading through rivers, the one-two punch of Canyonlands and Zion was an outdoorsman's delight! From there we made off to Sin City, where we lost Alex in a roulette spin gone awry. Never fear, though; we won him back by night's end, and Hot Shot Andy Frank earned enough extra dough at the Black Jack table to treat us to a room service dessert buffet (with plenty to spare!). The next day, we blitzed through the Mojave, and as soon as we hit bumper-to-bumper traffic, we knew we'd made it to California. Sure, we'd lost Gram'a Joad, Grampa Joad, our two dogs and the Preacher along the way, but the core of our happy lil' fambly was still alive and kicking!