Entry tags:

ashland, coral, darcy, film, jordan, malcolm, marshall, photos, risa, vacation

America, America (Part I)
I've been back for four days and I'm already counting down the nights until we get to go back. The July 4th long weekend in Ashland was a dream. Actually, my whole ten days off was pretty fantastic.

Malcolm, Coral, Darcy & Jordan picked me up at my place at 5:00am last Thursday morning. I don't think I've ever managed to get going that early on a road trip before, much less with four other people all trying to get their shit together on time. It was perfect. Starbucks hadn't even opened yet..

The trip to Seattle was a blur. We all managed to stay awake until the US Border, but as soon as we gassed up on the other side everyone but Malcolm crashed (I think) until Seattle.








I took this photo in Portland for Lindsay, best. store. ever.

So we stopped in Portland to pick up two of Malcolms friends, Risa & Marshall. Both completely amazing people who made the trip exponentially better, I think. We did some shopping & had lunch at Cha Cha Chas! - worst idea ever, beans and cheese and then another five hour trek to Ashland...


The Fake Shark tour van is basically the best road trip vehicle EVER. We were THIS CLOSE to taking Malcolms mom's car instead and ooomg, so glad we didn't.


Fixing the electrical.




xbox in the Van..



We didn't do much that evening - Got our bikes out of the Van, had dinner, rode to Malcolms friend Trevors house for a quick hello and then we all crashed early.








Marshall


Our Van


Trevors Van! (actually, I was so surprised to see the ambulance in the driveway.. I'd heard so many stories about that vehicle.)

July 4, 2008

Continental breakfast! (what a joke) The parade started at 10:00 about five blocks from our hotel so we stopped at Safeway for some SPARKS - we seriously couldn't get over buying booze at the grocery store - then wandered down for the celebration of Americas independence.












Ashland's library is closed :( (READ THIS insanity!)



















So after the parade the five of us walked into town to check out the goings on, then the met up with Marshall & eventually Risa & Trevor & Co. to check out the beer garden - decide it was WAY too expensive (considering all the cheap, tax free liquor at the grocery store) - and took off for the hotel to change, grab our bikes and see where we ended up. Our only plan was Trevor's dads party that evening..




















RISA!








TREVOR!



































The rest of the evening is all dancing & ridiculousness. I was so stoked on the atmosphere and the people ♥ ♥ ♥ Coral took most of the pictures at Bobs (photographer extraordinare)







































































After the party Coral, Marshall & I somehow managed to loose everyone between Bobs & the fireworks, so the three of us & Marshall's friend Sophia bought more to drink from (you guessed it) SAFEWAY and rode our bikes to the park to watch. I think that we are spoiled living in Vancouver with the fireworks here. :)




Eventually we reconvened at the hotel and headed off again for more adventures..
house party, flag stealing, flag replacing, flag stealing again, almost misdemeanors, magnolia picking and eventually home to bed.















I loved July 4th.