It has been days since I have been able to get internet access and we have been many places since anyone has last heard. After leaving Arizona we took off for Cali! Stopping in Twenty-nine Palms for a quick visit to our buddy Jake. He is stationed in the marines and leaving for Japan in a few months for 2 years. We spent our first night camped out in the desert. Akward camping for sure. We pitched our tent that night in the middle of an open desert outside of Joshua Tree. It was great to see Jake and we all had a good time. From Twenty-nine Palms we went to L.A.!!! I am still amazed at the amount of people. We only got turned around once. But other than that it was fairly easy to find our way around. We spent a day in the LAX, waiting to pick up our friend Lauren. She jumped in with us. (not like we had a space to put her, but we always find room for our girls) After hours of waiting at the airport I can say that I got a lot of reading done, and am pretty hemped out for a while:) I was so excited to see that chica. I am really glad that she is along for the ride. Oh and the Ocean BEEEEEAAAAAUUTIFUL!!! We started driving up hwy 1 that night. Everything was perfect and just what I was hoping for. We camped for a few nights got some amazing views of the oceans. Spent a couple of days in Santa Cruz. The first day we did the whole boardwalk/beach thing. Up until this point we had not seen really a whole lot of marine life. I was hoping to get to see a shark attack or something sweet like that. A few star fish here and there. Walking along the Warf in Santa Cruz gave us the opprotunity to see some seals at their best and laziest state. It was fun however to see and watch Kindal try and get their attention. She has a mean seal call. We camped the first night not to far from the beach and watched to sun set. I don't know how I have gone my whole life and not really had the privilege of appreciating something like that. The second night that we were in Santa Cruz we did not want to pay the money to camp in a state designated camping area. So... I called around and found a pretty cheap place to camp. Luckily we did not see the place before we got there. Picture a house with a backyard full of campgrounds. They had about 20 lots. The lady that owned to place was like 84 years old. We did get lucky with the fact that we camped under a beautiful walnut tree~next to the railroad tracks~ with a homeless shelter about 4 blocks down~ the homeless people walk by twice a day to get fed. Oh and I forgot to mention the gafitti, which we were told was not painted on by gangsters just some thugs. So knowing that made me feel so much better about going to sleep that night. The next day we went on to San Francisco. Spent a couple more hours in an airport. This time to pick up our friend Morgan. Which ment even less room in the car. Between the three of us girls we figured that one of us had enough clothes for the three of us. Now that is a little rediculous I would have to say. We were thinking about setting up a garage sale right there in the parking lot. Downtown San Fran was really cool. I got my first real experience of driving in the city. pretty crazy. Everything is so fastpaced. Life just seems to move so much faster out here.

Our time is coming to an end:(

Our time in Arizona is running out. We leave on Tuesday headed for the west coast. I have had a wonderful time here. Getting to know Kindal's sister Trista better and spending time with her has been great. We have been trying to stay busy, although there have been a few days where all we wanted to do was lay by the pool. Jerome, AZ was a cute little mining town with lots of tourist shops and some of the most amazing views I have seen so far. Henry took us for a sweet ride in his land crusier (elsie), we went hiking along the Verde River. It was really great to be with someone who knows a little bit of the history in the area. The river is running pretty high this time of year, and dirty dirty water. Definatly not something I would go swimming in. Kindal, Trista and I went camping last night at Beaver Creek. Beautiful counrty but not my kind of camping. I think it was the first time I have ever paid to camp in a campground. There was people everywhere. I guess that is just the way it is down here! I have always thought that when someone is camping in an area you don't go walking through there campground. Right? Well aparently not around here. There were people walking through our campground all night. We all had fun non-the-less, playing cards and sitting around the campfire. I got a chance to use my new camp stove. (thanks pretty sweet!) This visit has been really great, and the hospitality even better. But, I think I am ready for the next adventure, headed to Havasu Canyon, Twentynine Palms, Joshua Tree- HD

Arizona

Like Hannah said the camping in the Santa Fe national forest was very cold. It took us about an hour and a half to find a camping spot. The little towns around this forest reminded me of the reservation back home. I would agree that not only was the Gila Forest warmer but much prettier. Truth or Consequences was not really what i expected. i was hoping for natural hot springs, but the ones we sat in were just enough. the history of the town was neat to learn about. Hannah's relatives were very welcoming. It was good to see them and catch up. The dinner they cooked us was just was i needed after two nights of camping and eating sandwiches. the transition between New Mexico and Arizona is amazing. the landscape is different. many more cactus in Az. We have been at my sisters for three days now. its SOO good to see her and how well she is doing. She is one of the most beautiful ladies i know and so productive. She is my hero. i feel like our relationship has matured since the last time we got together, which makes my smile. her boyfriend is one of the nicest guys i have met. I'm very excited to get to know him. the weather has been rainy since we arrived. I'm really hoping it clears up next week so Han and i can go exploring while they are working. I'm super excited to see our friend Jake. he is in the Marines at twenty nine palms, CA. Callie..if you read this...IM SO EXCITED TO see your beautiful face....KS

New Mexico

So Grand Junction was great and it is alway great to see old friends. But... two days ago we hopped into our little jeep and hit the road again. This time off to New Mexico. Our offical goal of the day was to just make it into New Mexico, aiming for a little town called Cuba. Just picked it off the map. It was decided that since we can not really go to Cuba we would pick the next best thing. Little did we know that New Mexico is at least 60% hispanic, and all of these cute little towns on the map are filled w/ trailer houses. Are we back in Wyoming? No, I am glad that we traveled through the little towns and saw things that we would normally not see. It was late at night and we knew that we were in the San Juan National Forest but where, that was another question. We ended up in a town called Ponderosa. Not much there but the dead end road out of this little town lead us right up into the mountians. It was pretty cold the first night that we camped, but last night it warmed up a little bit as we went down south. Yesterday was a day of relaxation. The hot springs at Truth or Concequences was awesome. Last night we spent in the Gila National Forest. Beautiful. Tonight we are in Las Curces, NM visiting my Aunt and Uncle. Thank you for putting us up and giving us a great dinner. Tomorrow is a new day and it is not known what it will bring. HD

Grand Junction

The trip from Laramie to Grand Junction was much like the one from Lander to Laramie. Lots of snow drits. But we made it through safely and hopefully the wost is over and it is on to better weather from here. Yeah!! The Journey is just begining. Kindal and I did however find out that people shoud study there state capitals all though your life not just when you are in 5th grade. Things that you learn if 5th grade don't help out much now. On to New Mexico from here......HD

Colorado

Traveling from Laramie, Wy to Grand Junction, CO was a beautiful drive. The roads were snowy, but we surivived. Chelsie treated us to Olive Garden for dinner 2/17. Yes it was deluxe. Its always great to meet up with your girls. Today we are heading for San Pedro Wilderness in the Santa Fe National Forest. This will be our first camping adventure. I am hoping for nice weather tonight, we will see.

DAY ONE

tO NIGHT IS MY LAST SUPPER WITH MY PARENTS. HANNAH AND I ARE ON OUR WAY TO LARAMIE WY FOR THE WEEKEND.