Through more deserts to new mountains.

So I am sitting in a small town called El Dorado CA right now. I guess it isnt small in terms of Land Size, but population-wise, the trees and probably the animals certainly outnumber the people here.

I have spent the last 9 hours of my life in the car, en route to this cozy place tucked up in the deep pines of Northern CA. We should have arrived 3 hours ealier, but google maps threw me for a loop when it told me to take the 49, without specifying the direction. So we got of the 16 east, and went south on the 49 (when we should have gone north) about 30 miles out of the way. After about 2.5 hours of frustration, and 130 miles later (driving back and forth about 4 times), I can now safely say that I know the region of state road 49 from El Dorado south, to San Andreas, thanks to the ambiguity of Google Maps.

What really bugs me is my slow wit. I didnt think to look at the map in my back seat for about 2 hours. Anyway...we are here, and I was able to relax away my frustrations with a hot tub session under the stars, at my friend's uncle's house. The coolest thing happened here too. What looked to me like a deer came right up to the hot tub and looked right at us. There were no lights on, so it probably couldnt see us to well...but it looked right at us and peeked its head over the tub. Very frightening, but very cool.

I have always wanted to take a trip up to Northern CA, but I have never had a reason to, until yesterday. I was visitinng with a family friend who was suppose to go to a wedding up here, but her ride bailed on her. In typical, Nate Deardorff, Heroic Fashion, I came to the rescue. And decided to take a road trip, see some more of this new Pacific Coast state I call home, and Crash a wedding, which I know nothing about, nor do I know anyone there, except for this family friend. I really like it up here. It reminds me a little of New England, with lots of hills, and pine trees all over. You can actually see the stars which I really miss in Southern CA.

One other thing that Really surprises me is how much of CA is desert. Pretty much all 300 miles of the 5 we took to get up here was nnothing but desert plains. I nice blend of the desert west, mixed with the flat fields of the midwest. very surprising, Indeed.

CA is sweet if you go to the right parts, but I was very suprised with how bland and boring the scenery is going north on the 5 to sacramento.

anyway...it is late, I am rambling. Bed time.