10.20.2013

//Big Sur: Year 2// It was August last year when my friend Keegan invited me to Big Sur for a last minute road trip. It was the kind that you barely have any time to think about. You just say your in, and then you grab a few things and split for a few days. I met a van full of really nice people for the first time, and spent three days with them on the road. It feels like it was much longer than that looking back on it now. It has been over a year since my first Big Sur road trip, and so much has changed since then. After Big Sur via the Insight van, I came home knowing that I needed a van for myself. I settled on this fine machine:
This Adventuremobile, named "goldie" by my fine lady friend, is a 1987 Vanagon. This van would be our home and transport for 6 days. I have had her since around Christmas last year, and she has never failed me. To be honest, I was a little worried, since I've never tried to get so far from home and back in her. She was a champion. She took the winding roads and hills in stride and pumped out some sweet tunes while doing it. She came equipped with 17" tires, a roof rack, rhino lining, and a really good sound system - (we made some road mixes). There is a bed in the back, and if you park level, you are assured a good sleep. We learned this lesson the hard way on night one when we parked at an angle and ended up rolling downhill in the bed all night. Its pretty funny looking back on it now, but sucked the next morning. I made some blackout curtains to make sure that the sun wouldn't be our alarm, and no one could see into our mobile fort. The Crew was a little bigger this year with three of the gang from last year: Keegan, Will, and I, and some welcome newcomers to round out the bunch. We also had a plan this time. We were going up to check out the Woodsist fest at the Henry Miller library. Woodsist ran two nights: Sunday and Monday. We would catch sets by Woods, Real Estate, Little Wings, Fresh & Onlys, and Foxygen to name a few. Woods was a definite highlight. We left San Diego Thursday to get a good head start and add in a stop in Santa Barbara to break up the trip. We arrived in Big Sur on Friday. It was incredible as always. We spent the days in the sun swimming in the ocean and streams. One day we hiked up stream to a big waterfall that filled up a watering hole where we swam in fresh, freezing water and drank beers. We spent the nights huddled around the fire drinking whiskey, wine and beer, and cooking some incredible meals. Camping is better with good food. Here is the crew: (Left to right): Kristin, Danielle, Zack, Keegan, Brie, Mac, Will, and Chase
Limekiln Park:
All 9 of us jumped in Goldie for the short drive to The Woodsist Fest. I was the Captain of the ship. It was madness on the way there. The sounds of beers cracking open in the back every couple of minutes and a very rowdy crowd. The Fest definitely did not disappoint, and on the way home there was a beautiful, beautiful chorus of drunken voices singing "Midnight Special" by Creedence all the way to camp.
Backflip:
This will most likely become a yearly trip. Who's in next year?

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