Leaving California

So my blog is all ready to go. I hope you like it so far. We are leaving California in two days. There is an epic trip planned. I am a little nervous because Sacha (you remember Sacha) has no idea where we are going to live this summer. I hope we find an apartment. I don't really like either option of staying in a storage locker or in the hot car all day. Also I want another bunny friend...and we can't keep one in the car. I will do my best to update the blog as I go. It may be a few weeks before the pictures are up. Thanks for visiting!

Return to California August 2006

After an eventful summer it was time to return to California. I was glad because while Sacha was living in her car in Big Sky I wasn't able to prance about.


Intrigued by a rest area sign...or maybe ONE of us was about to pee their pants we stoped in Idaho. I was pleasantly surprised to find a lovely hike through a lava flow. We got out and stretched our wings.



We traveled south to Utah where again we got in late to the King's Bottom campsite outside of Moab (see Colorado to California post for a nice picture of me cooking there). The next day we explored one of the few frontcountry hikes in Arches Sacha hadn't done yet.

Who showed up that evening? Our old friend Mike. We had a great time reminiscing about Bruce. We camped one more night in Moab, then moved south to Indian Creek.


We spent the next two days in Canyonlands National Park. This was a great hike!



We left Mike and drove through Ed Abbey land down to the Grand Canyon. I think I must have been out of film. Even though we saw a pair of California Condors there is no photographic evidence.

California to Montana June 2006

A whole summer of adventure! Traveling from California to Montana was full of options. This is my friend the gnome and me right before leaving California.

My first stop was the world's largest thermometer in Baker, CA.

We had an amazing night of camping in Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument (the Arizona sign). We traveled up to Utah and Zion National Park.

Our friend's car was left by this road in town while we went into the park.

Next it was on to a night of camping at Parowan Gap. There are some great petroglyphs here if you ever find yourself in southwest Utah.

A visit to these caves south of SLC is highly recommended. A stay in the Avenues Hostel is not.

In Idaho I had to stop and see the world’s largest potato.

We made it to Montana where Sacha had the most awful job ever.

A few weeks into our stay we traveled to Glacier National Park. I hope to return there soon! Sacha quite her job and started working at the Rafting Company shortly after our trip north.

Colorado to California August 2005

Although we didn't really want to leave Colorado, Sacha had made plans months before to try a different state before buying a house and being grown up.

This is one of many get togethers at our apartment. I actually don't remember this picture being taken.

We packed Sue Bea. Here I am just before we left Snow Mountain Ranch. That's my friend Blackberry peeking up from the floor. I miss her dearly.

Our first stop was Moab, Utah. Sacha had been telling me so much about the amazing rocks. We got in late. Sacha slept next to Sue Bea at King's Bottom campsite, I stayed in the car. We woke up to bees swarming us. Then prepared a delicious ramen breakfast!

We tried to go to a Pueblo Museum. When we got there and found out there was a fee we knew the only option was to drive straight to the Hoover Dam. I was too scared to walk across with Sacha (weird since I am a bird) so I snapped this photo by the Arizona sign and waited in the car.

Eventually after many hours of being lost in the Southern California wasteland we arrived at Pathfinder Ranch. These are my friends Jamie, Alison, Kim and me at the beach in Carlsbad!

Meet Petey

Sacha and I met in 2005 at the Wal-Mart in Golden Colorado. I was hanging out with my life partner Bruce and some of our friends. Sacha was there with her friend Mike "Jug" getting oil changes for Sue Bea and the Mighty One. When the four of us met it was like we had been friends all of our lives. Mike and Sacha immediately invited us to come on their trip to Yellowstone. They were leaving as soon as their cars were done. We agreed to come along. Officially I became Sacha's and Bruce became Mike's.
We had a late night driving to Yellowstone. In the morning we went to the backcountry office and got permits to backpack. We decided it would be best if Bruce went along on the hike and I stayed behind to guard the cars. One could only guess what the next few hours would bring.
I was told by Sacha that the hiking group had trouble finding the trailhead. They struck out cross country following their topographic map. It was muggy going filled with mosquitoes and bush whacking. Finally the trail was found. As they filed out of the forest Mike asked Sacha to check the back of his pack to make sure the 1 pound of M&Ms was still attached. Bruce had been guarding it. The M&M's were still there. I could hear all the way back at the car one anguished

"BRUCE!!!"

He was gone. Somewhere between the parking lot and the trail Bruce had flown the coop.
Since I lost Bruce I have made it my vow to take every opportunity I am given. If I had gone on the hike I would be with him now. I will not live my life sitting on the sidelines again.