So, I had to delete some of the old posts, because (on my computer, at least) they were all mussed up and encrypted and stuff.  Weird.  But AAAAAANNYways, I know it’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything anyways, but MANY adventures have been had.  What’s been going on?  Let’s see…I started RUNNING up Cowles Mountain instead of hiking it…and I swear I’ll be able to run the full way up before long!  I go as often as possible, but midterms and finals were kicking my butt there for awhile.  So now that I’ve passed all my classes this semester, I’m going balls to the wall.

 So, in November I got my new mountain bike!  Woo-hoo!  I bought me a men’s Fisher Marlin, but it just seemed to fit me better.  My man-friend cyclist Steven took me out on a few road trips to get myself acquainted with my new toy, and then took me out to Florida Canyon out by my house in South Park.  (By the way, that was the first trip that I didn’t have a major spill, which I am very proud of)   

I just returned from my holiday trip to my madre’s casa in Tempe, AZ.  It was a splendid trip, highlighted by my first (a) REAL mountain bike ride (b) by myself.  The trails I rode were called South Mountain city park, which I was told is the largest city park in the US.  It was SUPER fun, but also WAY more technical than I was prepared for.  You know, being an EXTREME novice and all.  So I got about 20 minutes down the trail, maybe about 1/4 of the full loop, and my brake had somehow come loose.  As I was figuring out how to fix the dang thing, (again, novice)  I met this guy who was also biking on the trail, Justin, and he helped me put my bike back together.  (sweet.  other sports enthusiasts are so great when you’re playing their sport.)  So, we got to talking and ended up basically riding together, which was great, because he stopped and showed me how to get around all the technical parts unscathed, and was sort of my coach/guru for the day.  Question is: Did she make it through the trail unscathed???  The answer is:  Negative.  Oh. My. God.  Did I wipe out, or WHAT!?!  I’ll post the before and after pics of the ride, but suffice to say that my legs are scabby and black and blue, and I’m REALLY glad I was wearing a helmet, because I definitely FLEW over my handlebars.  After which frightening experience, my bike landed on top of me.  Very exciting.  But, at least I learned (albeit the hard way) to lean on my back tire when I’m going straight downhill over boulders.  It was a major rush, though, I must say.  I felt like I really accomplished something.  Beat something, even. 

Sometimes I feel so out of control of everything in life–relationship issues; waiting to be accepted to school, waiting for my buddy’s bar to open so that I can make some frickin’ money.  It’s nice that I have control over my own body and can push myself to the limits that way.  Finally something that I don’t have to relinquish control over to make it happen.

 And speaking of pushing myself to the limits, I’ve embarked on a more long-term, money-making adventure as well.  I’ve started nude modelling for art classes, and it is REALLY fun!  I make good money for it being such a fun job, but I definitely earn it all.  You wouldn’t really thing that just sitting there would be all that difficult, but let me tell you, it IS.  I’ve become one of those models who just pushes (her)self really hard to get an interesting pose for the artists, and sometimes it works to my extreme pain.  I have to commit to a pose for twenty minutes per pose, and since I’m still figuring out what I can comfortably pull off, sometimes I overshoot my stamina.  But it is awesome.  Not many people get to see what they look like through others’ eyes, and this job gives me the opportunity to do just that.  It’s really really interesting.  And fun.

 And it’s also getting late.  So, over and out for now.  Updates probably tomorrow, after I go conquer Cowles (at a dead run, baby) and Mission Trails on my bike!

Happy Adventures!

 Ashlee

…..through the mountains outside of San Diego that is!

This past Monday, labor day, Ashlee and I both had the day off from school, and decided to spend our day walking, walking, walking.

We took the long route on some trails out near Cuyamaca Lake, and ended up hiking for five hours.  I think we hiked somewhere around 10 miles. It was fantastic, and had really cooled off from the 108 degree weather the East county had been getting earlier in the week.  Immediately after leaving the camp ground after our hike, it started to sprinkle, and then a slow, but steady drizzle.

We pulled over the car, got out, and stared up at the sky, feeling more refreshed than ever.  Amazing how in less than a minute you can go from feeling like complete and utter shit, to feeling 100% (well, maybe more like 80%) rejuvenated.

I arrived home back in San Diego in one piece. The trip home was long, and a bit lonely, since I left my friend in San Francisco for school. I ended up catching a nasty cold, which is now in full gear, and I can barely breath out of my nose, and I sneeze in sets of seven.

School started on Monday, which hasn’t helped me in the sick department. School will put a bit of a damper on the adventure chasing, but Ashlee and I have planned out another trip up to San Francisco in mid November, which will be a fantastic change of scenery mid-semester.

While up in the Bay Area I got to see a small bit of Berkeley, but I fell in love. It is so gorgeous, and is much more laid back, but with the same sort of vibe as San Francisco. There are so many trees, produce markets, cafes, and Sari shops, how couldn’t one love this place?  If all goes according to the plan in my head, I am going to transfer to one of the schools up there (maybe SFSU?) when I am done with my general ed.

Here are those much promised pictures from my weekend in the Bay Area……

This is a fantastic sign someone hung above the street, two blocks from my mom’s house in Oakland.

The following are just some various houses and buildings that I liked the look of in San Francisco.

And, just because San Francisco is the land of a thousand iPod ads, here is one billboard, and some other GREAT billboards for your viewing pleasure.

And a self portrait….

San Francisco is my home away from home. If I had the money saved up, I would move here in a heart beat. The city is so incredibly beautiful, and the people are so down to earth, and much more like myself than many of the inhabitants of San Diego. There is art everywhere you turn, and amazing places to eat. Rather than a Denny’s, Coco’s, Applebee’s, and On the Border, you will find Ethiopian restaurants, Laosian, Afghani, and Indian places to dine. I don’t know about you but I couldn’t be payed to eat in those first four restaurants. Life is too short to spoil yourself on crummy food.

This trip to San Francisco has not been all pleasure. My good friend that I brought up here has been frantically looking for a place to live, so my mom (who we are staying with) and I have been driving her around helping get things in order, before I leave town.

We have done a small bit of shopping in this amazing Japanese dollar store my mom took us to, where I stocked up on wooden kitchen utensils. We bummed around China town for a few hours looking at Buddhas, and chickens hanging in windows. We walked down the Haight and saw about four Bob Dylan look alikes. We visited my favorite Dim Sum place over on Clement St. and ate some amazing dumplings.

There is something to do around every corner. I have only seen a few corners in my trips up here. I want a full experience here, let me go and I will find the best Chinese food in China Town. The cheapest freshest international produce store in the city. The best baklavah in town (ok, I already found that last trip up here, it is at a restaurant called Troya over on Clement St.), the best Irish pub, the most EVERYTHING. I want to get to know this city better.

San Diego, why aren’t you more like San Francisco??

So Tuesday, Cedar and I hiked Stonewall Peak, which is on the way up to Julian…(the signs pointing towards the Julian apple pies pulled at my very soul).  It was not exactly the most strenuous climb ever, but it was a long, strong walk, and very enjoyable.  It was mostly switchbacks all the way up the mountain, but at the top was about a 50 ft climb over some sweet rocks with dead manzanita all around.  It was kinda romantic and spooky up there.  Then when you get to the top…aaahhh!  It’s so pretty!  Lovely 360 view, and we could see the clearing across the freeway where we’d peaked a few days before.   Ooh, and we randomly saw a gaggle (?) of wild turkeys on the side of the road on the way back.  I didn’t even know that wild turkeys inhabited these parts.  (I guess you learn something new every…whatever.  You know?)  I’m def going back out there sometime soon.  Super easy to get to, probably will try to work up to running all the way up, as is the goal for Cowles Mountain, which Cedar and I did the morning she left for gool ol’ San Fran.  (and didn’t take me!)  I think I’m going to amble up that guy again early tomorrow morn…and Cedar–I am temporarily replacing your company with Jimmy the iPod.  But never fear: I’ll take you back when you return to me. 

After a fun eight hour drive I arrived safely in Oakland around 10:30 last night.  The purpose of this trip is to bring my really good friend up to school (she goes to SFSU), and to visit my mom, who just moved from San Francisco to an amazing little artists loft in Oakland. 

I am in love with San Francisco.  The city and surrounding areas are so culturally diverse.  You can find any type of cuisine you want.  While I am here I really want to check out this Tibetan restaurant I heard about, and I must get some Dim Sum. 

Expect a lot of pictures in the next few days!

Another beautiful day spent hiking through the back mountains 40 miles outside of San Diego. The day was hot, the sky was clear, and the hikers were all at work. The mountain was ours! It was a pretty quick hike, maybe a little over two and a half hours in the end. The trail was pretty even through most parts, with a few rocky patches. The half burnt trees from the recent Cedar Fires provides a little shade through certain points of the trail. The view at the top is phenomenal, and well worth the climb. Living in the city it is so hard to find things as beautiful as this!

While as peaceful and serene it is to get to spend time like this in nature, it sure leaves a girl feeling a bit of wander-lust. Seeing the vast mountains that surround us only makes one feel an urge to keep going, to see more, and more, and more. The mountains don’t end where my eyes stop seeing. There seems to be too little time, and too much earth. It is happening though, I am well on my way to seeing every last inch of it!

Time to hit the road…. San Francisco, here I come!