Before I do that, I need to put a lid on the past two months. A "capstone" project, if you will (c'mon, I'm trying to get back into academic mode). So to do so, I'll devote a few paragraphs today to what I'll call my "Superlatives" from the trip. Later tonight (or, more likely tomorrow) I'll spend a bit more time reflecting on some key things I tried to figure out along the way (jury is still out as to whether I made any real progress...).
Favorite Drive:
It's a close race here, but I would say the drive through Big Sur on my way from Los Angeles to San Francisco was probably my favorite. The scenery was unbelievable along the coast, particularly given the gorgeous sunset. It took me WAY longer than it should have, partly due to the windy roads, but primarily because I literally stopped at EVERY pull-off to take pictures and gawk at the beautiful coastline. Absolutely gorgeous.
Favorite Location:
Grand Canyon. It was the most anticipated portion of the trip, and man did it deliver. The host of beautiful colors, the breathtaking views of the incredibly diverse geologic formations, and sheer vastness of the landscape all exceeded my fairly high expectations. I still cannot begin to fathom what the first explorers thought when they happened across it in the sixteenth century. The sunset from Desert View is still probably my favorite one from the trip.
Favorite City:
This was a tough one. There are three that I really loved more than others--San Francisco, CA; Austin, TX; and San Diego, CA. Of those, I would probably put San Francisco on top because I could most easily see myself living there. The plethora of things to do, the diversity of neighborhoods, the beauty of both man-made and natural scenery, and the fairly temperate (although ever-changing) climate were all big factors in my choice. I really enjoyed Austin, and thought it was a really cool city, but the heat might have been a bit much. San Diego was absolutely gorgeous, but I honestly see that more as a vacation spot than a "live here" place. Again, very close choice, but it goes to San Francisco.
Least Favorite Location:
This one was pretty easy. San Antonio, TX didn't seem to have much to offer. I had a good time there--mostly because I was with my cousin who I had not seen in a while--but the Alamo was a bit underwhelming, and the Riverwalk disappointed. Had I spent another day walking around and taking in the sights, I might feel differently. But I didn't, so I don't.
Favorite Meal:
There was a sushi restaurant in San Diego called Taka that was absolutely delicious. I sat at the sushi bar and spoke with the sushi chef for most of the meal, and he dished out some of the best sushi I have ever had. A close second was Corky's in Memphis, where the dry rub ribs and pulled pork were good enough to be a "last supper." Third place probably goes to the Indian restaurant Aroma in Toronto. I'm a sucker for good chicken tikka masala, and Aroma's was delicious.
Place to Which I Would Like to Return First:
I'll break this one up into two sub-categories (because I can). Natural scenery -- Grand Canyon, for all of the reasons detailed above. City-scape -- San Diego, for the relaxation, fantastic climate, and beautiful oceanfront scenery. It would be awesome to spend a summer out there, for sure.
Best Book:
It's most definitely cliche, but On the Road, by Jack Kerouac. I sped through it, and thoroughly enjoyed the story. Now, I would say that my trip was not even close to the one detailed in Kerouac's timeless tale. No hitchhiking or time as a hired hand...or many other shenanigans that happened. But I definitely had my fair share of good times, and in many ways felt like I could relate to significant portions of the story.
Best Hotel:
Over the course of the trip, I spent about 20 nights in hotels ranging from Five Star destinations to No Star sh*t holes. This choice is not even close. Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Again, thanks to Maggee for that one. Definitely classier than I deserve. In a different category, I would put the Larkspur Hotel, a boutique hotel in the Union Square area of San Francisco, second. Delightful little place in a fantastic location. Also, I just want to say how great Priceline was on the trip. Their cancellation policy (or lack thereof) is VERY tough on someone who likes to change plans (like me), but once I got that through my thick skull they delivered with some great rates on pretty good places. Don't get me wrong, there were some sure misses, but overall this was a pretty useful tool along the way.
Best Campground:
Over the course of nearly 60 days, I camped 15 nights at campgrounds in Asheville; Santa Fe; Portland, OR; Grand Canyon; Bozeman, MT; Yellowstone; Rock Springs, WY; and Mt. Rushmore. My favorite place was by far Mammoth Springs in Yellowstone. For $14 a night, I had an outstanding tentsite under the stars in the middle of a beautiful glen. It was a great place to spend a couple of nights. Second would probably be the campsite outside of Portland in Oregon, which backed up to a stream. The sound of water was a great source of white noise.
Favorite Experience:
Again, a close one. Biking across the Golden Gate in San Francisco was pretty unbelievable. Taking a boat to the edge of Niagara Falls was outstanding. Hiking Mt. Washburn in Yellowstone was a thrill. Hiking down into Grand Canyon was very memorable (and exhausting!). Visiting the site of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination was moving. Climbing portions of Mt. Rainier was really cool. Hiking up to the Hanging Lakes with my little brother was definitely fun. Listening to random bands with a new friend in Austin was really cool. Watching the Bears practice made me feel like a little kid again. Exploring the endless shelves at Powell's City of Books in Portland appealed to my inner nerd. Listening to stories around the blackjack tables in Las Vegas was fascinating.
And meeting and chatting with hundreds (if not thousands; let's be honest, I can talk to a wall) of fascinating folks along the way was beyond great. Hearing their stories, and sharing my own, was a big part of the trek, and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting old friends and making new ones along the way.
There are so many wonderful memories...I don't know that I can choose just one experience. All I know is that I will carry these experiences with me for the rest of my days, and for that, I am thankful.
More to come later...
DRB
No comments:
Post a Comment