10/23
I woke up with butterflies in my stomach and was filled with excitement about the show.
We got to the show around 1:45, just so we knew where it was. The gates didn't open until 3, we found parking and walked up towards the gate. As we stood in line there was a complete buzz around us, everyone seemed just as excited about the show as I was. We heard the sound checks going on and I got a little teary eyed. I knew then that it was gonna be good.
It was funny listening to people around us talking about who they had seen previous years and what they thought would happen at this show. The guy behind us had been to all but one of these shows, 23 total with this one.
I was trying to contain myself, I let out some squawks and giggles here and there. I was texting my friends trying to maintain. We inched our way along until finally, we made it in the front gates. We got the program with the line up and I about died. I already knew who was going to be there but seeing it in front of my face, in my hands was different.
My friend Chad and his lady friend, Whitney and their baby on board met us in the bar. Chad and I had the love of Neil Young in common when we met. Even danced to Harvest Moon one night at the Pit. So if there was anyone who should be there it was him. I also saw my first Neil Young show with Chad and Whitney's unborn baby. :)
We found our way to a grassy spot that Chad says, in all the years he'd been going to this show has the best sound, I think he is right.
I don't know where to begin to tell you about how absolutely fantastic this show was. I got to see the man that I have loved for a while now and music has meant so much to me. Someone that I've read about, dreamed of seeing and finally he stood on a stage in front of me, with many other great musicians. They were all so raw and real due to the show being only acoustic.
Neil came out upon that stage; tears in my eyes, my hair blowing across my face and the occasional rain drops splattering my glasses. I was just sure I was going to be one of those Michael Jackson fans who pass out, I didn't but very well could have. I don't think the feeling of that day will be going away any day soon. I got to see Neil Young with good friends, the boy I'm fond of and other people who enjoyed the music as much as I.
We didn't have blankets or ponchos, we obviously are not the most prepared concert goers, but rain and all it was a beautiful evening. Seven hours of pure ear-gasmic music.
We did end up spending the night in the parking lot in the van, I found a porta potty that hadn't even been used in the morning. Jackpot! It's the little things.
We got back on 101 and stopped to get a new windshield wiper, which was much needed, the wind and rain was sucking pretty bad. It was nice to be back on the road with no real plans. I had that song stuck in my head for a long time, "it never rains in California, but girl don't they warn ya, it pours, man it pours."
Palm trees and some funny shaped shrubbery and farm land passed by on the sides of the roads. There is the random shopping center here and there.
We got to farm and orchard area. Onions and garlic filled my nose. There are fields and fields of fresh produce and colors changing depending on whats growing, deep greens, dark purple, bright greens and browns where the crop had just been reaped.
The mountains looked dry, they seem like the perfect backdrop for a western movie. I could see John Wayne riding over that range.
Huge bunches of grapes dangled from the vines, they looked so ripe and delicious.
There was a spot that had quite a few oil rigs and huge plumes of smoke filled the air from the buildings beside them. There were deer roaming around on the other side of the highway.
The clouds were lingering low and seemed to threaten rain, it was quite a bit warmer though.
As we continued on I was like a kid on Christmas morning, looking at all the fruit that was dangling from the trees and laying underneath. There were rows and rows of; lemons, limes, apricots, oranges, pomegranates and avocados. I wanted to stop a few times and jump the fence to gather some fruit that looked like it would go to waste anyway. Instead we stopped at an avocado stand and bought some for, get this, .50 a piece! I say this because I love avocados and they weren't very cheap in Alaska. So I scored.
I walked in the water and on the beach in Malibu and giggled just because it seemed so funny to think that we were in Malibu.
We stopped at the Santa Monica Pier and walked around, played some games and I finally got my boyfriend to go on the ferris wheel. It was pretty neat.
We stopped at Knotts Berry Farm, we didn't really know what to expect. It was late, so we just walked up and I spotted Pink's, a hot dog hot spot in L.A. that I wanted to try. Their sister restaurant was there in the park so we got some spicy sausages and enjoyed it thoroughly.
One of the only things that Rico wanted to do is go to Sante Fe Springs, to Moon Eyes. It's a car parts and accessories store and they have car shows through out the year. It has to be one of his favorite stores. A man named Leonard was kind enough to give us a tour of the shop. He even let Rico sit in their race car, I don't know that I've seen him happier. It was cool to see everything being made and learn about how they made all the parts. They had some cool cars and a couple of cool bikes. I've been seeing their logo on t-shirts and things for 2 years. It was neat to see the source.
We drove through Huntington beach where they wanted $60/night for camping. We drove on. Through all the little beach towns that looked fun and finally got to Carlsbad to the state campground and parked not very far from the ocean. It was a little campground but nice.
10/26
The 22nd day on the road and here I sit, awaiting that glorious sun to roll upward into the sky. The moon is fading above me and the birds still asleep, I have no idea what time it is. The ocean fills me with awe; no matter the time, or weather it still roars on with so much passion and power.
The sounds of waves rolling and crashing are that of which no one cam make up. It's so deep and mighty and twists and turns fill my sould with sheer solitude. The sky is changing above me, colors are rapidly changing and clouds roll around making way for the sun. People are starting to awaken with the sun's calling, walking by, running by and letting their pets out. The can is sitting with dew filled windows and my boyfriend sleeps inside it.
The highway behind us is getting busier. The world is awakening...Peace.
10/27
We made it to San Diego yesterday morning. We went to the San Diego Zoo because Rico's cousin Cathy had a job interview (that she got!) so we wanted to kill some time. Us and about 500 little kids, must have been field trip day. It was kind of overwhelming, the zoo is huge. I think we both liked the polar bears the best. They have a pretty cool exhibit for them. The whole thing was very cool though.
We got to Cathy and Scott's early afternoon. Scott is out of town. We chatted it up with Cathy for awhile, she had to do some errands so we went with. We picked their daughter Megan up from school and went to the grocery store on base. My first military base. We came back and she cooked some awesome pasta and we just chilled out.
We got up today and took Cathy to the airport, then went to a cool little coffee shop. We have been taking full advantage of hanging out in a house today, we've just been doing some laundry and watching t.v. I think we're staying here until Friday. Hope everyone is awesome! Peace.
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