Seattle & Portland

Well the few cool things about Seattle were: We got to meet up with Lizzy (our couchsurfer from Stockton) she was just coming down from Alaska and we just happen to find her at Pike's Market at the fish toss. Pretty awesome we found each other. I also got to see an old time friend who happen to be in town for a convention from Stockton too.

The nice thing is the first night we were in Seattle, a couchsurfer offered us a homemade dinner. Of course we said yes. Scott made a crazy roasted chicken, ribs, curry rice, macaroni salad. AAAAAAaaaamazing! We said our goodbyes and stayed with my best friend from college Jane. She offered a nice peaceful space for us to decompress from the trip. I also got to go to the Seattle Flagship REI. An old supervisor gave me a tour of the store. Very cool.

We finally got to Portland and then decided that since we got in so late that it will be cheaper for us to get a $60 hotel to split 3 ways then a hostel @ $30/each. So, we checked into a hotel and then got ready for the night life of Portland. We went out and then went to the famous Voodoo Doughnuts where they make crazy shaped and flavored doughnuts. For example they have maple bars w/ bacon on them, PB & J, and Fruit Loops to name a few. The next day we toured around and then went to the Bridgeport Brewery where we meet with a couchsurfer that just moved to Portland from WI. We hung out for the rest of the night and stopped at VooDoo again for a late night snack. We again didn't have a place to stay so a friend of a friend of a friend came thought and hosted us at 11pm. It turns out that this random girl is from Santa Cruz and knows a friend of mine in SF. Small world I tell ya!

After that we woke up in the morning for our long trip back home. It's a 10hour drive and we set off for the long day. The drive was going great and we passed the OR border and then 1/4 of a mile before we stop to claim anything I get pulled over for speeding. Granted I was going 18 miles over the speed limit BUT I was going down a hill in a very weighted car in neutral (cuz it shakes). I tried to explain to him that my car shakes on downhills because it's really weighted and I put it in neutral to prevent the shaking and then feather the break. I could of made more effort to go slower but I was just cruisn. He didn't budge but he only gave me a ticket for 9 miles for the speed limit. I just blew it off because I am trying to get home.

Like I mentioned in my firsts posts that my grandfather wasn't doing well and that I dedicated this trip to him. I was fortunate to get home late Tuesday night and spend Wednesday and Thursday with him until he just recently passed on Thursday morning.

I have this weird feeling that he was waiting for my to come home. I know he worried about me on other trips and I don't think it would be any different on this trip. So, I am thankful that I got to do this trip for him and for myself. It was beautiful and amazing. Thank you Papa for allowing me to do this and that you made sure that I got home safe.

I love you always and forever Papa!

Canada: Victoria & Vancouver

We got on the 5:15 Ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria. Oh crap, we don't have a place to stay! So, I looked really quick on my phone on the couchsurfing website if anyone responded to our couch requests while I still had Internet.

I saw that this one guy said "maybe" so I called him. In my sweetest voice I said "Hey! This is Ashley from Couchsurfing...blah blah blah!" He agreeded to host us BUT he said that he wasn't going to be home until tomorrow. But, he said that he will leave the key to his house for us with his neighbor and sent me a txt of his neighbors number. Granted, this is not uncommon. I've had couchsurfers do this often. But the other boys were surprised and were taken back that a stranger trusts strangers with his house. Pretty amazing.

We got to the loft (right smack dab in the middle of downtown) which was beautiful and plenty of room. The three days that we were there we went to some gardens, had beer, toured around. Victoria is a small England. Flower, cute shops and the vibe. WE got to hang out with a ton of Canadians. It seems that Vancouver Island is like the hippies of Canada. So pretty progressive. There isn't much to do in Victoria but the residents seem to like it enough.

We then boarded the ferry to Vancouver. One of the most beautiful ferry rides I have ever been on. The SF and Larkspur ferry rides are shit compared to this. Once on the ferry I escaped from the boy and headed up deck to to feel the sun on my face, wind in my hair. I just closed my eyes it felt so amazing. The ferry ride is very unique because you go by so many islands. It's crazy to think that these islands are populated. It always interests me as to what people do for a living and money.

We got to Vancouver and also didn't have a place to stay. So, Julio called a friend of a friend who might live in Vancouver if three people can stay at their house. And by the grace of couchsurfing awesomeness she said yes!

In Vancouver there was so much to do. We went to a Canyon and a suspension bridge. We also toured around downtown. It's very diverse and the ratio to men to attractive women is crazy. We played a little game; to try to find ONE just ONE attractive man in Vancouver. Couldn't do it.

One really cool thing is a couchsurfer emailed me saying that they were going to be in Van at the same time as us and would want to meet up on their way to Alaska. So, we meet up with them at a regagee club. Brad was from TN and Bart was from Belgium very cool guys. Hung out for the rest of the night.

Our trip was winding down and then we had to leave for Seattle the next morning.

The Northern Route: Olympic National Park

Leaving Crater we headed straight to Portland. Because, Portland is hella cool! A good friend of mind Cassey lives there and since we were passing though and hungry we wanted to stop for a quick bite. She meet up with us for STARK PIZZA yum. We couldn't stay long cuz we still had 4 more hours of driving to Olympic. We said our goodbyes and jetted up.

The ride once you get to the peninsula its like someone compelety different. I didn't feel like I was in the same country. I could of easily been in Switzerland, Crocatia or Italy! Just driving. Mountain on one side and The Sound on the other... breathless.

The night was coming fast and we had to find a camping site soon. We finally found this cutty campsite of course free at the Ft. Collins. So we spent most of the night gathering wet wood and keeping the fire going. With not much success.

The next morning, we got to the entrance gates of the Park we headed to Hurricane Ridge which is a crazy steep grade. I had noticed that I had been sitting on "E" on my gage the whole way up. I was hoping God that we wouldn't run out and then just fly off the hill. :-) Once we got to the top there was an endless horizon of mountain peeks. Blue skies for days... majestic. Once we got to the top we were hoping to get a backpacking permit at the Ranger Station. We were informed that we had to go back down that steep grade to get it! WHAT?! F! So, then Samuel told us "Hey, guys I think this is where I head out. I think I'm just going to take off. It's been fun and thank you so much for the opportunity." I turned to him and said "Are you going to be okay?" he said "yeah, I'm ready to do some hiking solo". Alright, then I said. As he gathered all of his things and stuffed and shoved all of this belonging in his bag he was off. Just like that! Apart of me felt missing. We had done 1,000 miles together. He was apart of the family now, but he's leaving. Understand Samuel is the type of guy that could live off of a handful of nuts and pine needles to chew on like gum. So, I knew he'd be fine. But kinda didn't want him to leave.

I forgot to mention that Samuel didn't have any money for this trip. We worked it out that we could all use his food stamps to buy groceries for the trip. It worked out for everyone.

After Samuel walked out of our lives we piled into the car after that and descended on our way back down that 20miles hill (in neutral). The car was quite after that. No one said anything...

We finally got to the correct ranger station and acquired our backpacking permit. We were scheduled to do the Seven Lakes Loop a total of 11 miles. Full of waterfalls, lakes and stunning views.

Next, drove an hour to the trail head and we started off at 3pm. Our first campsite was 4miles up. The trail up was an endless rain forest, waterfalls, greenery oh and banana slugs! The campsite for our first night was at Deer Lake and believe me there were tons of deer. Deer Lake was so pristine clear and flat. Very special.

The next morning we woke up to pouring down rain and small puddles in our tent. Jesus! I woke Julio up and said "WTF, your tent sucks!" Brad was using my real "waterproof" tent. Bullocks! I said "man this is going to make the rest of the hike kinda hard." There are tons of slippery rocks and boulders that you have to go over and we will have 7 more miles to go. I asked Brad in the other tent. "Hey, whatcha think Princess?" he said "I don't care whatever you want to do." Granted Brad had two huge blisters from the last hike, cuz he wore converse.

I made the decision to back out and head down the hill. The rest of the trail was too dangerous, plus there was snow (which we didn't have gear for).Including, Brad's blisters and my hunger for DENNY'S FRENCH TOAST! We packed up all of our sopping gear and took 2 hours to get off the mountain.

We came to the car to an almost flat tire on the back drivers side. Guh! So we took the 1hr careful drive into town to get the tire pumped up. Thank goodness we made it!

I could see the trip was wearing down on people especially myself. We hadn't had a real shower ever, one polar dip at Crater and now sopping wet, tired and hungry from this overnight wet-fest. We decided to move on to Port Angeles and take the next ferry out to Victoria Canada.

The Northern Route: Crater Lake

Gorilla status (knuckles dragging on the ground)... We finally make it the he'll out of Lassen. I was not expecting to just go ahead and do 9 miles of backpacking starting a 5,000ft in elevation. Which btw I found out I'm crazy sensitive to elevations at about 6,000 and above. I get really asthma-ie and winded easily.

We found a service road right outside of Crater Lake to camp out at. It was perfect because there was a clearing so the night sky viewing would be perfect. The only downside is that in the morning the road sounded like the "Ice Road Truckers" route through Sturges, SD in Aug. Jesus you'd think that honking your horns and slamming on the gas at 6am is a little uncalled for. I have a feeling it was a logging road that 1,000 trucks went past to get to the hwy. So not a sounded sleep. boo

Once we got to Crater Lake we finally parked and piled out to see this Massive Lake. Did you know Crater is the cleanest water in the world?!?!! AND is the deepest lake in the US?!?!? Right? Crazy! So, we took the standard pictures and poses and then walked the rim of the Crater for about 20 min. There was an article in "VIA" magazine that featured Crater Lake in the Aug issue. I stole it from Mony (my Mom) and read the article about what I can expect when I get there. They had mentioned that on the deck of the Crater Lake Lodge there there are ranger talks three times a-day in the wicker rocking chairs while looking out on The Lake. It was pretty amazing. Of course I grabbed some Sierra Nevada Beers and some strawberries we picked up along the road. It was about 5:00pm so the next step was to look for a camping spot for the night.

North of Crater Lake about 50 miles we found another service road. The nice thing about about Oregon is that you can camp anywhere, I mean ANYWHERE as long as your car is not parked on habitat a.k.a grass, open fire as long as there is a fire ring and 3 ft of brush cleared. I almost peeded! I was like WHA!!! This state is pretty amazing. So we found this awesome little camping spot next to a creek in a very jungle like environment, minus the Malaria and monkeys.

I woke up early about 8am and then decided that it's been 4 days since I took a shower that I was going to bathe in the creek. I strolled over to the creek and mentally prepared that this f'n river is going to be flipp'n freezing. So, I just got in waist deep and bent over to get my hair wet. OMG! I was shaking and shivering uncontrollably I've never been in water that cold before. But I did it washed my hair and body and then stumbled over to our camp site and started a fire. The boys finally woke up by the fire and saw me shivering. Once they woke up they decided to take a creek wash too. All I could hear are yelps from the site once they got it. It was quite funny.

Next stop Olympic National Park...

The Northern Route: Lassen

I first want to appoligize that I have not been able to post any entries. There was a huge lack of internet and access on most of my trip. So, I will be doing a couple of enteries about the trip in separate sections.

Secondly, I am home and safe after a 10 hour car ride from Portland to Stockton. Now, the first destination, Lassen...

Per my other entries I had mentioned that we had a total of four travelers + dog heading up North. They are as follows: Brad (Lodi), Julio (Sac) and Samuel (Tuscon, AZ) and Shiya (The Big White Dog). With the last minute changes and Samuel joining us 4 hours before take off I had to scurry around to make sure everything was in place. And big white dog had to forfeit her seat. Honestly it would of been a huge ordeal to have Shiya while we re backpacking. But I promise to take her to Alaska with me next time.

After driving to BART to pick up Samuel, and the other boys we were on our way to Lassen. This was my first time applying and getting a backpacking permit. Very exciting! I was so excited to get it I got it 2 months early.

As we entered Lassen the were so many amazing things to see that were so diverse. Crazy amount of wild flowers, glaciel lakes with ice caps still floating in them and snow capped mountains for days. It was alll Ooooo's and Aaaaaawww's all the way to the Ranger Station.

Announcement: I thought I forgot my camera so I did not take any pictures of Lassen. I will have to wait on the pictures from Julio to post. I found the camera stuffed into my car door on out way out of Lassen(dar dar).

NOw...
Once, we got to Lassen Samuel suggested that we backpack now! Get our feet on the trail. I was a little hesitant because the backpacking permit wasn't for the next day and I had just driven 4 hrs on 3 hrs of sleep. AND this show off wants to pack in NOW?! Raising to the occasion like I sometimes do I "played it off" like "oh yeah, cool. whatever"...NOT like this is my first backpacking trip and I have not mentally prepared for this...guh! So we hiked three miles into one of the most beautiful hikes I have have ever seen. We decided to do Lower Twin Lakes Loop, a total of 9 miles. So, we finally found our camping spot about 500 yards from a beautiful lake.

We set up camp and then pulled out the bear canister and then started making our dehydrated food (which I have never prepared or eaten before). Yummy! No not really. If any of you have ever had dehydrated food you know you eat it mostly out of despiration.

If you have nothing to do you find that you go to bed early. We slept from 6pm to 10an the next day. ahhhh what a relief.

We packed up and we headed out for our 6 miles trekk out. What I didn't know was that this 6 miles trekk was going to be brutal almost as challenging as Half Dome only two years ago. I don't know how heavy my pack was but it was flip'n heavy. I wouldn't be surprised if it was 40lbs. I packed everything because I didn't know what I would need. So, I bought everything.

The beginning of the trail was beautiful and fairly flat then 3 hrs in I was completly beat. The weight of the pack was really limiting my beathing. I had to lift it off my shoulders so I can grab a full breath. It took a total for 4hours for me to get off that stupid mountain. And of course the boys didn't wait up for me so I was hiking solo. It's lonely being by yourself for 4 hours and a little scary. I was alwasy wondering if I was going the right way. Fortunatly, Brad was wearing converse and they had a very unique sole and I could see his tracks in the sand and dirt. So, for the most part I knew I was going the right way.

I came to the end of the trail and I was three boys laying in thr grass next to Summit Lake passed out. I wistle, "Hey get the hell up, I'm hungry!" I stormed to the car for some nourishment since I didn't eat anything... mmm cornuts and potato chips.

Pictures to come...

Baby's first backpacing trip

I am 5 days without showering, head to toe in skeeter bites, dirt in-between my toes, beer in my hand and on a BOAT!

We are on the Black Ball Ferry headed to Victoria,BC. We are all still alive and writing this to u on my iPhone( very difficult). I will touch back with all of u soon!

Brad& Julio say hi!

Trip Dedicaiton to you.

I have three hours before I go pick up a stranger from the BART. This stranger had just called me 2hrs ago saying, "Hey saw your post about your trip on Couchsurfing. Can I go?" What?! Yes! We had just had one traveler have to bail because of health so we do have a spot left. Originally, I gave this spot to Shiya (my dog), but I think we can make this work. 4 people + an 75 lb dog for two weeks in a Taurus. Ha! We'll make it work.

I just want to give a shout out to my grandfather who has been failing in health the last two weeks, that I love him. I visited him in the hospital today. He was frail, tired but in good spirits. I sat with him about about 2hrs. Just looking, staring... thinking. What a gift I have been given. My grandfather. He is an constant inspiration to what I hope I can become as a person. I have gotten to know my grandfather so much the past few years. I've lived with him, cooked for him, laughed with him and celebrated. I see so much of myself in him. I have seriously had a delima deciding weather this trip should continue? What if that last time I see him was at the hospital just several hours ago? Would I regret going? Is it selfish?

I would like to think that he wouldn't want me to be anywhere else then where I am going. He has not been to any of the places on our itinerary. As an advocate for National Parks, a conversationalist of nature, and a farmer he would want me to go on this trip. So, with that I would like to dedicate this trip to one of the most important men in my life, Russell Chapin. I promise, that I will send you a post card to everyplace I go. This trip is for you!

Love Always and Forever your Granddaughter, Ashley

Another Road Trip on DA WAY!

The reality of life kinda set in back in May. It was the anniversary of me taking off from my last trip and I didn't have any plans to travel. Which was painful! I just did this epic trip just a year ago and I don't have plans to go anywhere yet? Boo.

So, I reached into this silly brain of mine and was thinking WHAT could I possibly do on a tight budget? ROADTRIP! okay, okay, now where? Well, looking around my desk and on the internets... hmmm. WTF do I want to go? OMG! I need to get my passport stamped!!! I got this passport back in 2008 with the intention of going to Brazil w/ a boyfriend that turned ugly and thus I decided not to go. How does that feel? Having this great looking picture, no dents, no folds empty passport! One of the worse feelings in the world. Just a proof of my fear of travel in the past and the inability to get my sh*t together to leave and go somewhere!

Cheap? Able to use my passport= CANADA!

Now, how am I going to get there? Hitch hike? Bus? Plane? Bike? There are certain levels of comfort I am not willing to give up just yet. Travel is a process of getting to know yourself. How to handle stressful and unfamiliar places, people and experiences. Thinking back of what made me happiest when I did travel was driving. So, to make this experience more affordable and more FUN! I decided to extend the invitation to my Couch surfing community. Had received a huge interest back in May now I have a solid group of 4!

Currently, I am making plans for the backpacking permits, Couch Surfing locations and gear. Today, we assembled the car-top box now just need to reach out and see about getting more donated/ borrowed gear. It's 13 days until take off... will check in right before we leave.

I will try to encourage the other folks to contribute to the blog should be a fun trip.
Leaving Aug 17- 30th. Rough sketch of route: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Stockton,+CA&daddr=40.69296,-121.4191+to:42.88949,-121.83046+to:45.30201,-121.74491+to:45.50942,-122.6867+to:47.40386,-123.88779+to:48.41995,-123.36444+to:47.58643,-122.32008+to:Vanc%C3%B4ver,+Col%C3%BAmbia+Brit%C3%A2nica,+Canad%C3%A1&hl=en&geocode=FUYwQwId5D_F-CmBIUR7cw2QgDHYy08E0fV2WA%3BFeDsbAIdpErD-CnxM5h00TjNVDEVHFMM58Mmvg%3BFRJxjgIdxAO9-ClvdftFXS_GVDEgq9M3Ew4Gtg%3BFfpAswId8lG--Clz4laQIBm-VDF1DvIJCNsuSQ%3BFSxrtgIdFPOv-CnvyXLqFQqVVDG4Z9eKeTSz2w%3BFVRT0wIdUp-d-Ckr0JukEf-RVDEpGfKuNjAW9Q%3BFW7U4gIdqJul-CkrdFBxkXSPVDFkvP0WKB89xw%3BFX4c1gIdMIu1-CnX84bLhGqQVDHBIt2DGZ2LLA%3BFaqq7wIdOW6p-CmzT6lD8XOGVDGL84Gb6paRuw&mra=dpe&mrsp=4&sz=8&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7&sll=45.452424,-122.475586&sspn=1.58372,3.488159&ie=UTF8&ll=48.122101,-122.557983&spn=1.507068,3.488159&z=8