Tuesday, March 27, 2012

San Francisco Road Trip

March 2006 - [A steamy short story post for your viewing pleasure]

"Adventure is worthwhile in itself." - Amelia Earhart

I was driving home one afternoon and received a call from Dan the man [circa 2006 before the hands-free law]. He asked if I wanted to go on a road trip to San Francisco. I said, "Sure, when?" He chuckled in a smooth velvety voice; answering my question with a single word, he uttered, "Tomorrow." I thought about it momentarily and agreed. I immediately called my boss and excused my way out of work for the next day, he said to me, "Don't worry about it, have a good time." Aww yeah!

There were four of us, strapping young college guys, full of curiousity and willing to experiment. We've been good friends since high school; some friendships went even deeper into the past... much deeper. It was a long and hard drive up the coast; the late-Winter rain pounded relentlessly against the car. We got shafted at the Monterey Bay Aquarium because they were closed.

After snuggling wildy for the night at a visually clashed motel, we made it to "happy" San Francisco and went crooked to the historic Golden Gate Bridge. We crossed the bridge and meandered to a secluded vista hillside. We took pictures and suggestively posed with one another while the perverted Golden Gate Bridge smiled in the background. Undeterred as the rain sprinkled our faces with its juices, we took it all in. All of it. The great outdoors! Yes! Don't Stop!

On the edge of civilization, littered with phallic monuments and orgasmic accomplishments, our merry band of manliness stood firmly side by side. Secretly pining for more adventure. Our hunger unsatiated from the previous night together, we continued our bro-trip home. Again, we arrived at scenic Monterey. We almost got boned twice at Monterey Bay Aquarium because they were closing in 10 minutes but we snuck in through a gaping door. We penetrated the Aquarium, greeted the floating Sperm whale hanging in the main hall, and ran through the exhibits. Snapping risqué pictures and soaking in all the non-judgmental aquatic life until the Aquarium closed. We left gasping and pleased at our 10-minute quickie.

We stopped at Dan's childhood favorite city, Oxnard, and turned in for the night at a quaint roadside inn with complimentary breakfast. The sun shined over the sparsed clouds the next day, beating upon our tight bodies with vitamin D's. These So-Cal t-shirts and shorts attire can barely contain such massive excitement. We went kayaking! My first time! Without protection too, reckless but exhilerating! Dan's been before and was a bear with Mark at the helm. I had Patrick as my partner, mmm be gentle [bites lower lip].

An hour of sweaty arm gyrations later, our kayaks thrusted smoothly back into port; innocence lost! We worked up quite the appetite that only a flamboyant meal with a flaming onion volcano show could satisfy. Afterwards, we were homeward bound. Passionately we gazed once more towards the Pacific. The sun kissed the rolling waters as it sets on the horizon. Our road trip came... to an end. We cleaned up and privately reminisced about the naughtiness, the pleasures, and the laughs we shared as a foursome of everlasting friendship.

[Today is actually the 6-year anniversary of that roadtrip starting with that phone call! Serendipitous timing!]

[Proof!]

Friday, March 23, 2012

Sturtevant Falls

The first time that I hiked Black Star Canyon [up to 4 now] was with 30+ other hikers. It was unequivocally wonderful. The beginning was tamed and steady simply because we're on a fire road. Then we hit the creek... like ants, we crawled forward. Over rocks and boulders, we, as individuals, choose our own path yet still following in the footsteps [pheromones] of our sisters and brothers [ants]. I describe Black Star Canyon to newcomers as a "choose your own adventure" kind of hike. No matter what path you choose to get over those boulders, our destination is the same [righteous].

The group that organized that particular hike is called "DooYuWanna Hike" [Facebook link]. A good friend, Stephen C. introduced me and several other friends [including Dan] to the group. They do more than just plan hikes, they organize days to [learn] kayak, archery, camping, wilderness survival, fundraise for charity, and much more.

Apparently Dan loves hiking so much that he went without me! The nerve of that sexy mother-[shut your mouth!] What? I'm only talking about Dan [we can dig it!]. He's a complicated man and no one understands him but his woman [position[s] available, ladies]. So Dan went hiking at Sturtevant Falls [nobodyhikesinla.com link] with Doyoowanna Hike and two close friends [July 2011]. Sadly, I did not partake in the cooling waters of Sturtevant Falls nor did I feel the burn of "Cardiac Hill" for the steep ascent out.

Dan came out of that hike unscathed and from his own words, he felt fine, it was the other hikers that slowed him down! Literally carry someone [you know who you are, Khanh] on his strong, burly back because they were too slow for him. Wish I was there... with Dan, doing what he loves, hiking.


Proof!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Grand Canyon

March-April 2011

The previous post about Dan and his virtual habits was suppose to segue into his pioneering penchant and our visit to the Grand Canyon. However, typing that Marvel: Ultimate Alliance paragraph pissed me off so much that I decided to end that post early. So here it is.

This is post-make-up-bromance at White Sands. This is a hiking destination that I have not had the pleasure to traverse but am humbled to have the opportunity to vist. I'm talking about the beautiful Grand Canyon [Wiki Link]. A few hours during our cross-country roadtrip spent gawking at the natural vastness of rock and Earth was well worth it. It looks like a freaking painting and will give you vertigo if you stare at it for too long.

Dan's investigative spirit always takes him off the beaten path. What fence and warning signs? So what if dozens of people fall to their deaths at the Grand Canyon every year*? Silly statistics. Dan will take initiative in the absence of orders. He was the first one to go off the path and the first one to look over the edge. His adventurous spirit led the way and we followed while astonished in our disbelief and fear of falling over the edge. Although it was a short visit, it was memorable and Dan's true love for the outdoors peeked as the crow flies.

Proof!