Reno, NV & Salt Lake City, UT

Hello from Telluride, Colorado!  Today is our last day here, but we enjoyed ourselves so much we forgot to write a blog.  Now it's time to catch up.

On our way from Eureka, CA to Reno, NV we found a shoe tree.  Auntie Gem gave us Frankie's checkered Chucks to throw up there, and they look fantastic!  She was so thrilled when Micheal Urie (the assistant, Mark, on Ugly Betty) signed them, so it is only right for them to be on display.

Can you see the black and white checks?

Danni even scattered some ashes under the tree.

The rest of Reno was mostly playing two square (instead of four square.)

The next day we headed out early for Salt Lake City, UT.  When we got there we picked up a hitch hiker at the airport.  We treated him to Fazoli's and put-put golf.

Reading the green...

It didn't work.

Danni's golf pose.

There was also a round of go-carts, and lots of arcard games.  We all won prizes to play with.

Another Frankie's! Alas, it was another bar so Dan and Riley couldn't go in.

While we are having fun on this trip it is also strange to realize the reason we are here.  We miss Frankie, but know she is having a great time watching and guiding us.

For today's random bit of advice: Compliment three people every day.

Eureka! California

We are now settled in Reno, so time to update on the last two days that we spent on our trip from San Fransisco to Eureka! "I Have Found It!", California. We traveled up Highway 101 for a descent amount of time, and and then Highway 1 to experience the beautiful valleys and oceans up the northern coast. One spot was so awesome we made a pit stop and decided to explore a bit. (plus we needed a break from the winding mountain road as we were all turning a bit green from nausea)

The guys playing around on the rocks

We risked our lives (not really) jumping from oceanic rock to rock to spread Frankie's ashes into the crashing waves. What this picture doesn't show is the moment when i slipped,  was about to smack my face on a rock, grabbed Alex, she slipped, and got her foot soaked in a tide pool. That's sisterly love. I bet Frankie was laughing about it too.

As we were nearing Eureka, we encountered signs for the ever so famous Drive Through Tree! It was... in a word... BIG. Sadly, it was made for cars to drive through it, not Texas Edition trucks, so Alex and I simply walked through it. We stopped in the exact center and spread some ashes so she can forever be a part of this amazing tree's growth.

Redwood National Forrest. It was chilly, but that made the hiking all the more enjoyable. There were multiple trees that you could walk and crawl through. Many of them were burnt on the inside, but were still living. Frankie and I talked about the renewal of life, and I know she would have enjoyed to be in such a rejuvenating environment.

Alex getting in her tree love time.

Banana slug!! We saw many of these little guys, and they were so cute we decided to give them some shadow love. Frankie loved all living things and she would have adored these guys, no matter how slimey. She believed in the life of all things no matter how small, and no matter the language barrier. To her, a slug and a tree are both the same level of alive as we are. Never take for granted how precious life is, no matter the size or species.

I foraged my way through some vicious ferns and poison oak to spread Frankie at the base of this tree. It was tremendously tall and sweetly green, so we picked it as the lucky recipient of her love.

Alex and I being sworn in as Redwood National Park Junior Park Rangers. We even got little plastic badges! Our Ranger Guide was really friendly and kept making us want to laugh during the oath.

That sums up our stop by the redwoods, although a traveling fair moved in next to our campground. Gotta admire how fast they can put up roller coasters.

Random bit of advice for the day: Leave everything a little better than you found it.

San Fransisco

Our first day in San Fransisco started out really hot compared to Monterey, but in the evening it was just as chilly.  We went up to a lookout point where the army started building turret guns during WWII.  The guns were never finished, but the tunnels were left behind.  The view was beautiful, so we decided to spread some ashes.



We found another Frankie's!  The restaurant was small, and an old man with a thick accent was the only waiter and bartender.  It was absolutely delicious!  If you ever visit San Fran go to Frankie's Bohemian Cafe.

Baker Street!

The next morning we went to the fisherman's wharf to explore.

I don't think it was possible to count all the restaurants that sold clam chowder and sourdough bread.  We thought this particular restaurant was neat.  They had bread baked in so many different shapes and sizes.  I wanted to hug and eat the bear all at the same time.

We wanted to take the tour of Alcatraz, but we found out the tours were sold out until Thursday!  Luckily there were about 10 boats advertising a trip under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz.  We got some ice cream, and found the least sketchiest boat to ride on.

We spread some ashes under the bridge.  According to the captain we passed over the deepest part of water under the bridge.  Something like 350 feet deep!

Danni wearing the jacket the deckhand gave her.  No she has not turned into a hunchback... that lump is Totoro.

Alcatraz!  Luke kept accidentally calling it Azkaban, so we called it that for the rest of the trip.  We sprinkled in three different places around the island.

After the chilly but fun boat ride we decided it was time to leave San Fransisco.  Gotta love the rainbows on every tunnel.

Today's random bit of advice: Ever so often push your luck.

Monterey

We are finally at a campground with dependable wifi!  We are currently in Eureka, CA using the heat instead of the AC for the first time.  It's rather chilly here!  The weather was nice in Monterey.  There was a chill in the wind, but nothing a light jacket couldn't fix.  During the drive up we saw lots of different crops, and tried guessing what each one was.

There was also sleeping...

awkward sleeping.

When we finally got to Monterey, and settled in the hotel Uncle Ray graced us with, we went to see Cole (Frankie's brother).  He was at work, but his lovely wife Lindsey took us out to the ocean where we spread some ashes.  It was too dark for a picture, the sound of the waves was peaceful.

The next morning Lindsey took us out to see 17 Mile Drive.  It was beautiful, and we found a few good places to spread ashes.

Then we went to a different beach where we played on the rocks.  As Danni went to sprinkle some ashes a wave came crashing into the rock giving her a nice spray.

For lunch we went to a small sandwich shop that was delicious!

We saw a bunch of seals laying out on a beach.  Danni thought they were all rocks at first because there were so many!

We went to the Fisherman's Wharf and walked around for a bit. 

We decided to sprinkle some ashes at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co because Frankie called Cole her bubba... and she liked Forrest Gump.

Later on we picked up Cole and went to the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz.

We road some coasters, played some games, and of course spread some ashes.  Just as Danni was getting ready to sprinkle a wave came rushing up and got both of our shoes and jeans wet.  Frankie was just screwing with us by then!

We had a great time with Cole and Lindsey, and we're so thankful for everything they did for us!

In the morning we ate a delicious breakfast.

Before we headed out we visited another spot that had lots of rocks and tide pools.  We sprinkled one more time, and parted ways.

Of course we had to stop at a fruit stand on our way out.  Fresh and tasty strawberries and cherries!

Even though Frankie never got to visit Monterey and see the beautiful city her brother and sis-in-law live in, she is there now.  She is all over the city watching over the people and wildlife that she loved and adored.

Today's random bit of advice: Every day show your family how much you love them with your words, with your touch, and with your thoughtfulness.