DAY 1 : JULY 28, 2017 : BERYWN, PA TO CHICAGO, IL (APPROX. 742 MILES)
I left home around 3am with a headache from a tearful day before and bubbling anxiousness for the trip ahead. I passed through Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, experiencing the first of many beautiful, fluffy cloud-filled skies driving along flatland. I'm a sucker for clouds and had no idea how incredible they could look or make me feel on a stretch of open road. I was itching to get to the Windy City and once I arrived, I explored the city by foot - in total awe of the giant concrete jungle surrounded by the natural beauty of the lake, beaches, green parks and rivers running through man-made city tunnels. I only wish I could have spent more time there, and know that I'll be back for sure. Did I mention I had my first deep dish pizza after taking a photo with the bean? S'good and s'cultural.
Day 2 : July 29, 2017 : Chicago, IL to Brady, NE (approx. 720 miles)
The second day consisted of a TON of driving, indulging in my collaborative playlist (the BEST tip if you're going on a roadtrip and want a piece of home with you - I asked my friends to add their favorite songs and loved knowing who each song came from). I stopped in Iowa City for a stretch and gas (the cheapest on the road so far) and was blown away at how cute it was! The coolest boutiques, artwork scattered throughout the town and even a piano in a community courtyard that anyone could play. I only took one photo that day (and a few time-lapse videos that won't post here.. bummer). And looking back at these black-eyed daisies bring me right back to that charming town.
Day 3 : July 30, 2017 : Brady, NE to ESTES PARK, CO (Approx. 316 miles)
Day 3 marked the first time I ever set foot in Colorado and actually experiencing it was as amazing, if not more, than how I had it built up in my head. I had never seen real mountains. Of course I had seen the Pocono mountains, and sure that's something, but they're hills compared to the beast of the Colorado Rockies. Driving on the paved roads between towering boulders with rivers trickling under and little islands of greenery between it all... it blew my mind that this had always been here and I had never seen it until now. How grateful I was that someone out there decided to settle on this land, eventually figure out how and do the work to pave these roads and made it possible for me to travel between what would seem like impossible terrain. And to think, this is actually someone's drive to work, of the view on their way to their friends house, or their favorite yoga or spin class... I'm still pretty mind blown as I type this and think back to it (as you can probably tell). When I first arrived it was midday and was starting to rain.
It was peak season to go hike Rocky Mountain National Park (ha, get it?) so I was also battling massive traffic with zero cell reception and had no idea where to go. Every website I researched prior made it sound soooo easy... "yeah just start at the trail head and head East." Great, got it. BUT WHERE IS THE TRAILHEAD? I finally found a park ranger who gave me a map and was so gracious and patient, explaining exactly where and how to get there and the fastest route to do it. Daylight was ticking away and I NEEDED to do complete this hike or my trip was null & void (*queue the dramatics*). There was a lot of rain and was worried it'd stick around but as you can see through the photos, I was blessed with only a few waves of rain, and mostly beautiful clouds and hidden sun. I had 5 hours until sunset and I used up every minute of those 5 hours, hiking up to 10,000 foot elevation and seeing the most beautiful colors, shapes and formations nature can provide. and the elevation is no joke when you live barely 1,000 ft. above sea level for your lifetime... quite literally breathtaking).
This was the first time my photography was truly challenged. I had never been in such changing conditions with similar physical challenges and a great fear for my baby's safety (my camera, of course). I fell head over heels in love with landscape photography that day and it's inspired and kept me dreaming to travel and experience more of this country and world's natural beauty. Sooo, if anyone wants to start a GoFundMe to donate to the cause, I wouldn't hate it.
As my hike ended, I got back and sat in my car... muddy, sweaty and totally spent. I started to drive back towards civilization and saw the beautiful view ahead. I spent 2 more hours touring the cute town of Estes Park and decided to drive South a bit. I stopped at a grocery store for some turkey, cheese and bread, made myself a sandwich and crashed quickly at a hotel in Boulder for the night. No time or energy to check out the city, so I guess I'll just HAVE to go back someday....
Day 4 : July 31, 2017 : Boulder, CO to Arches National Park, UT (Approx. 440 miles)
The fourth day took me to the Moab Desert, specifically Arches National Park in Utah. These natural wonders were INCREDIBLE and luckily I got there with enough time to get some good shots before the sun started to set too far (can you guess why I got there so late?.... Colorado just had to keep me a little bit longer ;-) ). Unfortunately I got there so late and during some construction on much of the park, that I wasn't able to actually get up close and personal with the arches. Now I wouldn't say I was too bummed about it, because honestly, what I learned about myself that day is that I can really do without any time spent in the desert. The heat, dry land, monotonous views... it was anything but exciting (of course besides this park which was only a small portion of the lengthy trip on the desert roads). This hasn't changed my mind about national parks or exploring canyons and such, but next time I know the timing really does matter in these cases and I can't just go on a whim and end up there at any time of day like I did in Chicago or Colorado.
I stayed for just a little over an hour and started to drive back North until I reached a rest stop where I planned to refuel and map out where I'd be staying for the night. I later found out that was the best thing I could have done because the next 140 mile stretch of road had zero rest stops or gas stations... just straight dirt and tumbleweeds. I settled in Provo for the night, a town just south of Salt Lake City, and couldn't WAIT to get the next day going because I was headed to my next stop which I'd be staying at for two straight nights... finally, some real rest!
Day 5-7 : August 1, 2017 - August 3, 2017 : Provo, UT to Lake Tahoe, NV (approx. 640 miles) / Lake Tahoe, NV to monterey, CA (approx. 320 miles)
Days 5-7 were by far my favorite, partly because I had 2 nights of staying in the same hotel, and also because I found one of my new favorite places in the world: Lake Tahoe.
Before I got to Tahoe, I left Provo, UT and made my way up to the Bonneville Salt Flats, with fingers crossed that I would arrive after some rainfall, creating the perfect, mirrored conditions for reflective photos *swoon*, but unfortunately I was going during one of their driest times of year, so of course, no rain and no mirrors. The experience was so cool though. You actually feel like you're on another planet. The salt is hard and course against your feet and the salt stains pretty much anything you wear with a white, chalky residue (think, that line on the brim or top of an old, worn-in sweaty baseball cap.. just 1000x worse), so you pretty much have to walk barefoot. It was no doubt one of nature's best pedicures and the reflection off of the white ground created the ultimate tanning (read: burning) conditions... my shoulders were fried within the 45min that I was out there. I took a few photos and was on my way...TAHOE BOUND!
Lake Tahoe was amazing. I checked in to a hotel and stayed for 2 nights, the first and only stop where I stayed longer than 1 night. I spent my entire time soaking up the sun, watching the sunset, hiking at Emerald Bay, swimming at Sand Harbor State Park and having fireside drinks at night underneath the clearest starry skies, listening to a guy play Eagles and Tom Petty covers. Tahoe has everything and more of what I love. Mountains, water, sun, crisp nights, clear skies, bright stars and kind-hearted locals. I absolutely CAN'T WAIT to go back.
After Tahoe I made my way West and FINALLY touched down in my new home state of California. Of course I had to make a pit stop in San Francisco, crossing the golden gate bridge playing the Full House theme song (because I am a diehard fan), stopping by the Full House house for a photo op, eating lunch in front of the painted ladies and making sure to spend time capturing the famous Golden Gate Bridge at a few different vantage points. I wanted to spend more time in SF, and had to make my way a little further South to make sure I was on my timeline for the last 2 big stops: Big Sur and Huntington for the Vans US Open finals.
Day 8-9 : August 4, 2017 - August 5, 2017 : Monterey, CA to Morro bay, CA (approx. 220 Miles) / Morro Bay, CA to Huntington Beach, CA (approx. 240 miles)
My way down the California coast was slow and intentional. I left 2 whole days with only about 200+ miles each day open to whatever came my way. Day 8, from Monterey to Morro Bay, was filled with some of the most incredible coastal views as I made my way through some of Big Sur. First stop was a driving tour through Pebble Beach (known for it's incredible golf course and pristine coastal nature). The 17 Mile Drive tour has over 20 stops with a map to guide you and history behind each stop. It takes about 2 hours to complete the entire tour if you go at at the average speed, stopping at every spot - and that's exactly how long it took me. Then came what I had been itching for... Big Sur. Unfortunately, earlier in the year one of the largest landslides in Big Sur history (we're talking 6 million tons of rocks and debris) took out part of the highway in-between some of the most picturesque Big Sur destinations. Because the highway was closed (for over a year... and it just reopened in July 2018... yessss!), I was only able to drive down the PCH until I hit the road block and was detoured back North. During that drive, I passed over the famous Bixby Creek Bridge and savored every twist and turn, with the windows down and Big Little Lies soundtrack on blast.. soaking up the smell and taste of the fresh, salty air, smoothly swerving towards the edge, whitewash waves crashing below pulling in from forever spanning deep blue water. There were only a few turnouts to be able to explore and take in the vista, which only means I need to go back to get a chance to really experience it for all it's worth.
Up until that point I thought I had felt the most alive I've ever felt... amongst the rocky mountains of Colorado and blissful air of Lake Tahoe, but along Big Sur's treasures I came fully alive. Imagine standing on the edge of the world. The strongest of nature's guardrails behind you and liquid eternity ahead, pulling you in with gratitude and pulling you out with hope and inspiration with each proceeding wave crashing below. You are limitless, powerful beyond measure, and worthy of every dream coming true. Quite honestly, there are no words to describe how profound this place can be, and I don't feel like I'm doing it justice in the slightest by trying to explain it to you here... so I urge you, make the time - take the trip.. Experience the edge of the world and the life it reignites in you... it will happen here.
The end of day that 8 brought me to Morro Bay and what was at first, a huge disappointment. There's this giant rock out in the water there with some great surf in the right conditions and I was hoping to capture at least some of that. Within the 20 min it took me to get into town, park and get my gear ready, the thickest, lowest fog I'd ever seen rolled in. One minute the rock was fully visible, and a few minutes later it had vanished. Disappointment slowly crept in and I was so angry at myself - I had stopped earlier for a longer stretch and coffee break than I planned for, and blamed that on missing any good shots of "the rock." I shot a few angles and sat on the beach watching the surfers disappear into the mist and reappear as they caught choppy 2 foot waves. I talked myself out of the anger and fell into a deep sense of peace. I have always sought out the sun to relieve tension and bring calm, and that day I found it in the gloomiest of conditions. Fast forward a year later and in editing the photos, I found that the one from Morro with the few fishing boats and rock faintly in the distance is now one of my favorite photos I have ever taken - and wouldn't be the same without the fog I was so mad about. It brings me back to that day, the peace I felt, and reminds me that even in the worst conditions, we can create a new version of beauty and success - as long as we choose it.
I crashed for a night a few miles down from Morro Bay, more inland, and I woke up to my 9th day on the road, heading South from the central coast to, touching down in Malibu for a few hours of rest and shopping (plus a smoothie at Sun Life - because that's the place to be) and soon enough I had made it to Huntington Beach - aka Surf City, USA. There were few stops I had to make at a certain time/day on this trip and reaching Huntington on August 5th was one of those. The finals for the Vans US Open of Surfing were happening on the 6th and it would be the first WSL contest I'd be shooting on the West Coast - a goal I set for myself by the time I turned 30 and one of many reasons for my move out West. Photographing the sport and culture of surf is something I've been inspired and motivated by for many years, and whether my work takes me anywhere in that industry or not, it makes me a happier, better version of myself for myself and everyone around me. Is there any greater reason to make a move (literally) or a change in life than to be better? Nope.
Day 10 : August 6, 2017 : Huntington Beach, CA to San Diego, CA (approx. 100 miles)
The last day of my trip, the grand finale of it all, took place in Surf City, USA at the Vans US Open of Surfing. I got up at the crack of dawn, hustled to get some coffee and find a parking spot before the early birds got set up at the shoreline. I was one of the first photographers and soon throughout the day, the beach would be lined with cameras, each creative looking to create a different, unique perspective or nail the perfect timing. I was just stoked to be there amongst the talent and high energy of the contest. Now the thing with photographing contests is claiming your spot and sticking to it. There's an unspoken rule that no one should cut their way into your visual space and if they want to, they ask or make you aware that it's just a temporary block. Now some don't know this common courtesy and a few guys tried to get right up in front of me once the final heat hit the water. I asked them to move and mentioned how long I had been there (6 hours.. with no bathroom/food/drink break - the main downside of going to a contest and shooting alone), and they practically ignored me. A few other photogs who had been there with me the entire time saw what was happening and stood up for me, ending up telling them to hit the road and not to be a bunch of jack@$$es. So luckily they left and I have perfect view for the rest of the contest.
My biggest mistake? Not getting a 3rd backup battery. My camera died in the middle of the last heat... the one for all the marbles, which would crown the winner. Major rookie move. A few days later I made sure to order one because I'm never letting that happen again.
Once the contest was over, I got a bite to eat, and made my way down to San Diego through my favorite little towns of Newport and Laguna. Once I got into San Diego, I was surprised by my Dad at the hotel I was checking in to for the first few days in SD (which turned into 3 weeks... apartment hunting in the summer here is AWFUL). I had finished my 4,000+ mile journey and had made it to the city I'd now call home.
And the rest, as they say, is history. Today, August 6, 2018 marks 1 year that I touched down in sunny San Diego and I still sit here in total shock that it's gone by so fast. Looking ahead to year 2, I'm more stoked than ever to try new things and explore more of this part of the country, now that I'm feeling more settled and finally at home. Stick around for what's to come.. I'm sure there'll be a lot more revelations, ah-ha moments and stunning views. Thanks for coming along on my journey and reliving (almost) every mile with me.
xo - lj