16 days of fun, friends, sun, snow, nature, and relaxation.  Thats all I ask for in a vacation and that exactly what I got in this one.  I hope you enjoy some of these pictures and read some of my monologue (although I realize most of you are only reading this because either I guilted you into it or you're trying to convince youself that I haven't dropped off the face of the planet).


This is mostly chronological order.  Some of the pictures came out very well I think.


So I flew into LA.  Fighting rental car agencies and the dreaded rush hour in LA I drove down to San Diego.  I had a great time with my cousin Scott &his wife Heather.  Here's a picture of the three of us at their pet store in Coronado. 





Next stop Santa Barbara and visiting my old friend Mandy and her boyfriend John.  It had been too long since I had seen her.
Here's a picture of Mandy &John while were visiting a winery (most were disappointments but I did love Cambria winery).





Here's a picture I snapped of the place we took a swim at while we were hiking through Los Padres National Park.




Next I leap frogged up to Nevada City and spent the night with my friend Jen.  Off course I forgot to take a picture so she gets off easy :)

Next day found me at Crater Lake in Oregon.  Didn't spend a lot of time there but some of my pictures came out very well.  Especially this one (it might be worth seeing the enlarged version)



I spent the night in a campsite below Mt Hood.  The next day I continued on to Mt St Helens.  This was a very beautiful but desolate landscape.  It certainly was unique.


This picture really shows where I hiked.  I walked an amazing 18 mile trek through this to try and get as close to the volcano as possible.


 


Continue on --->