My, it’s been a busy few days! Thanks to this final phase of the move, I’ve barely had time to breathe, much less blog. My family and I have been slowly making our way down the coast to our new hometown. We’ve finally arrived! Our furniture and household goods will be delivered tomorrow (yay!), and then we get to unpack. I can’t wait to be settled and back into some semblance of a routine. We’ve had a great time traveling, but I am such a creature of habit. All of these transitions and the constant roaming about is starting to wear me out. Plus, doesn’t it just figure that when I’m feeling truly inspired to write (the people watching! the music! the landscapes! the alone time to think while driving!), I don’t have the time to sit down and ACTUALLY WRITE? Such is life.
Anywho, for today’s Blog Me MAYbe post, I’d love to give you a few of the highlights of our road trip, starting with the song I’ve had on repeat pretty much the entire drive:
It’s a YA story waiting, to happen, right? I adore Lady Antebellum, and ‘Dancin’ Away With My Heart’ is definitely a new favorite.
Admittedly, I haven’t had tons of reading time over the last week, but I have been leisurely working my way through This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers (June 19, 2012). Um… It’s awesome.
From Goodreads: It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?
And, lastly, I’d love to share a few photos from our trip (I took dozens; this is merely a sampling!). If you use Instagram, you can view all of the photos I posted under the hashtag #CAHereWeCome, or you can check out my Instagrid.
Heading out… Can you tell how much my husband appreciates the way I commemorate EVERYTHING with a photograph?
My girls and me in front of Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, OR.
Sea star!
My girlie took this photo… Pretty good for a four-year-old, I think!
Gorgeous beach sunset…
Ice cream at the Tillamook Cheese Factory… Yummy!
Post-picnic hiking, mid-Oregon.
Gosh, McDonald’s is fun!
Is it too soon to call ourselves California girls? (Somewhere outside Crescent City, CA)
That, my friends, is one big tree! (He’s called Grandfather Redwood, which totally makes me wonder if he’s married to Grandmother Willow from Disney’s Pocahontas. :))
Big Foot = Scary
And, FINALLY, home sweet home.
Tell me: What’s the best road trip you’ve been on?
katyupperman.com 
That looks like a fantastic trip. We are considering a driving trip with our boys. Three boys plus long driving trip equals frustrated parents. 🙂 When I was growing up, we used to take two week driving trips during the summer. I loved it. We visited places like Grand Canyon, Red Wood Forest, Hearst Castle, Vegas, San Diego Zoo, etc…I think my favorite was Grand Canyon.
Ciara, we did a very similar trip two years ago… Hearst Castle was amazing, and we adore the San Diego Zoo. I can only imagine a road trip with three boys; seems there would have to be many stops to allow them to run and play. 🙂
Great pics! One of my friends and I used to go on day-trips, anywhere within a few hours of where we lived, and we always had a blast.
I think day trips are fantastic, Jennifer… Tons of fun, and not much work!
Looks like a fun trip! You’ll have to share pictures of your new place once you’re settled in. Are you planning to review THIS IS NOT A TEST? I’m debating putting it on my TBR list, but zombies sort of freak me out.
I’ll definitely end up review it, especially if it holds up to its fantastic first half. I don’t love zombies either, but it doesn’t really matter because this book is much more about people and their messy lives. It’s just set against the zombie backdrop, which so far has served to escalate the tension.
What a fun trip!!! I’m thinking about taking a road trip to Monterey with the princess this summer…your pics are making me really consider it! Your daughter’s outfit is adorable!!
I am inclined to believe that Grandmother Willow was far too independent for Grandfather Redwood so after a brief affair, they parted as friends.
Okay, I like your Redwood/Willow theory much better than mine. I’m totally on board! 🙂
Love Lady Antebellum and love that song! I’ve been listening to a lot of country music as I’ve been writing. I’ve thought the same thing about some songs–it’s like a YA story waiting to happen. 😉
This is Not a Test is not the type of book I would normally read, but I definitely want to read it. Sloane intrigues me. Also, I’ll read anything by Courtney Summers.
Love all the pictures! Looks so beautiful. You are really making me want to hit the west coast! The one of your daughter with the sea star is so cute.
Thanks, Zanne! She was a little hesitant about touching the sea star at first. 🙂 And yes, I’m a big Courtney Summers fan as well. So far, THIS IS NOT A TEST is not really about zombies. It’s about people and their unflinching realities, just like the rest of Courtney’s books. I can’t wait to see how it plays out.
All these pictures make me really miss being down there! My family and I have done that exact route a few times. (There’s a picture of me somewhere hugging one of the redwoods…but a much smaller one.)
OMG, I love the Tillamook Cheese Factory. I used to go there all the time when my grandma lived in Portland. Obviously, the ice cream is the best part =)
We did this route two years ago, but my daughter was too little to really appreciate it. This time around was much more fun! And yay for Tillamook! We most definitely indulged in their ice cream — yum!
Beautiful pictures! I love the redwoods. Moves are exhausting, but it looks like you’ve had amazing scenery on the trip.
Thanks, Rebecca! We have been lucky, route-wise, for sure! And we’re at the tail end of the move now… Just need to receive our household goods and unpack all our crap. 🙂
Your new hometown is around Monterey? You lucky thing you! I live in Sacramento, but I would kill to live closer to the coast. 😉 Those are some gorgeous pictures. I hope you all get settled and comfy soon!
I can’t WAIT to read THIS IS NOT A TEST.
THIS IS NOT A TEST is really cool so far, Kelley. I have a feeling it will be very well-received when it releases. And yes, we’ve only spent a day in Monterey, but we’re already loving it!
Ooo. You live close-ish to me. I’d love to meet you for lunch sometime and talk writing. I’m Emily and crit partners with the lovely and brilliant Taryn, who I believe you’ve met.
You’ll love California! Good luck with the unpacking and settling in. (Also, you’re daughter is adorable.)
Thanks, Emily! We’re happy to be California residents, at least for the next couple of years. 🙂 And I’d LOVE to meet up. I was just thinking about how I need to weasel my way into the YA (or just writing!) community around here. We’ll have to exchange info soon!
I’m so excited you’ll only be a few hours away! It has been WAY too long. Can’t wait to see you!
Yay! We’ll definitely have to arrange a meet-up, Kristen!
Your road trip looks wicked! Also I am so jealous you got to go to Redwood Forest – I have ALWAYS wanted to go!
The Redwoods are very cool, Rachel. Totally awe-inspiring. Hopefully one day you’ll have a chance to visit them. 🙂
Great photos! Looks like an awesome time.
Thanks, Dana! It really was fantastic!
I loved this post. I started that song and listened to it while looking at your photos and I felt like I was watching a slideshow of your trip to CA. It looks like you had such a great time—way to make the most of a move! I love the photo in front of Haystack Rock. Gorgeous!
Aww, I love that, Tracey. And thanks… I’m glad you enjoyed the song AND the photos. 🙂
Definitely when I went to CA with three friends in my tiny ass Blazer for the Rose Bowl in 2002/2003. We were sort of miserable in the car, but so many funny moments in between. Probably a couple trips to eastern WA including to WSU and the Gorge rank up there, too! 🙂
I wish I could have gone to that Rose Bowl, Kari! Talk about the trip of a lifetime! I can only imagine the shenanigans that took place on that trip. 🙂
So glad you arrived safe and sound in CA! And looks like you had a blast too! As far as my favorite road trip – I’ve had a lot of wonderful ones with the family, but I’m not going to lie – most memorable was spring break senior year. Traveled the eastern seaboard from PA to Charleston and back and well…it was an adventure.
Ha! An adventure… Something tells me that’s putting it mildly, Alison. 🙂 I’m sure you made many, many amazing memories!
Yay, you arrived in one piece! Or five pieces, I guess. I’m glad you fit some fun (and photos) into the moving process 🙂
Ha! Five pieces sounds about right. And yes, we had a great trip down. Now, if only someone would come unpack these boxes for us. 😉
I’ve LOVED seeing your Instagram photos! You have such a beautiful family. 🙂 Glad you’re in your new hometown and getting settled. Hope you get to start writing again soon!