California Tripping

[The backlog continues. From more than a month ago...]

Growing up I never wrote, drew or doodled in my books. Adding graffiti to someone else’s work felt forbidden. Why taint something that was perfect enough to publish?

One of my favorite places in Oregon is Powell’s Bookstore (I've never been to the big one downtown! Oh regrets). Finding a used copy of a book we were reading in class that was littered with notes was like discovering treasure. Those scribbles were like cliff/spark/pink monkey notes that no one else could access. Still, I preferred not to add my own notes to an already marked up book because... just because someone else did it doesn't mean you need to do it too, if they jumped off a bridge would you do it too? (I'm not sure how many times I've heard that one... but it's set in stone.)

Lately though, I found a love for marking up travel books. Finding meaning, hidden motives and examples of personification in literature is not my forte, but being a tourist- I totally embrace that. Writing in restaurant recommendations from friends and locals, schedules, local tips, souvenirs to look for, prioritizing activities and highlighting information is like working through a checklist of fun. Little accomplishments checked off one by one.

I used to think travel books were a waste of money. Why pay for a book when you can get free pamphlets from tourist booths and read yelp reviews? Travel books give me a template to work off without having to find too many addresses, phone numbers and open hours on my own. I love the tips and namedropping by locals. It's almost like we're neighbors except I don't know anything about my neighbors (except one guy likes to smoke a lot and somebody has a dog with a big bark named Max).

I recently uncovered my California Trips book (by Lonely Planet), which I fully planned to markup. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Perhaps one day I will have to leave this beautiful state without ever biking in wine country. Lifetime of regret ensues.

 

Skimming though, the best time to go for most of the trips ends in October or end of summer. Eep! Which would be now. Time to clean out the car and make plans.

Trips set to expire soon:

Alice Waters Culinary Tour (Berkeley, SF)
North County Eco Trip (Sonoma, Mendocino County)
Calistoga Cycling (Calistoga, north of Napa)
Marin County
Hiking the Lost Coast (north of Rockport, Ferndale)
Pioneers Trails and Ghost Towns (San Francisco to Goodsprings, NV)
Hot Springs and Swimming Holes (Nevada City to St. Helena)
Central Coast High Life (San Simeon, Cambria, Paso Robles)

Anytime:

Hidden Wineries, hidden valleys (Alexander Valley to Healdsburg)

Livermore’s Fine Vines (Pleasanton to Livermore)

Steinbeck County (Salinas to Monterey)

Later:
San Luis Obispo Wild Wildlife (SLO)

Bike I can reach the petals on? Check!

New bicycle helmet? Check! 

Ability to ride a bike without running out the bike area and into street? Work in progress.