Our Western Vacation

Short Version of our trip:

In the last 5 days/4 nights i have been...

in 5 airports (BTW JFK is the most horrible airport in the world)

on 4 planes

stayed in 3 different hotels

driven 6hrs through two states with sand dunes and rocky mountains

climbed a small mountain

gotten pulled over by the border patrol

seen the sun rise on the pacific and within 10hrs watched it set over the Atlantic (both while stuck on a plane)

gotten barefoot and splashed in the pacific ocean

touched a sea anemone

watched the sunset over the pacific ocean with some harbor seals

been nose to nose with a polar bear, panda and a hippo

been in a sandstorm

driven myself around two unknown cities to see many vet clinics and be awesome at it

eaten at a SONIC! (OMG they exist! i took a pic of the menu to prove it)

eaten sushi in the San Diego gas lamp district

found an orange grove in the middle of a desert

bought a $200 lunch at quiznos (for a clinic, but STILL)

came home and put my son to sleep

Long Version

Kenn and I left BWI on Weds AM, flew into Atlanta's Airport, flew out of there to Phoenix, Az. Picked up our Rental Car and checked into the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort. (which was beautiful). The next Day I left Kenn to his own devices while i went around and visited 6 clinics or so in Scottsdale, Gilbert and Phoenix. While I was gone ken climbed a mini mountain (we're not sure what constitutes a mountain) This is a picture of the mini mountain, which ken also made me climb the second I pulled into the parking lot at sunset. He has some neat pictures of that sunset which will be posted on Kenn's blog. (http://www.wherethelightfalls.com/)

Then after that Kenn decided he wanted a real challenge so he walked several miles to this mountain (squaw peak) and climbed it!

Here is a picture of Phoenix that he took from the top of the mountain

And this is a picture from on top of the mountain of the mountain he climbed when we were here for my work 3 years ago . (Camel Back Mountain)

That night we watched the Thursday night football game at a local sports bar, and had the best cookie ice cream I've ever had... They baked a choc. chip cookie in the bowl then put ice cream over it. ohhh soo good... i digress again

Friday morning we drove 3hrs to Yuma, Az which was having a small sand storm when we pulled up. Ate "breakfast" at a "in and out". Then I had my large meeting and drove around Yuma locating 3 other vets and found they have an orange grove in the middle of the desert. BTW there is not much in Yuma except for a mall which was built 2years ago. And lots of trailer parks, apparently AZ is the FL of the west for retirees. so we have no pictures of Yuma... Kenn was so tired he hung out in the hotel all day while i was out. We ate dinner at Cracker Barrel, which just happened to be located next to our hotel. Saw a movie (3bucks cheaper then MD) and then found a sonic for dessert!!! Sorry we have never actually been to a sonic so it was a big deal.

Sat Morning we got and drove 2 1/2 hrs to San Diego, CA. The drive itself was beautiful! We drove through sand dunes..

This was taking by Kenn, out of the window as i was driving. (so are the next 2)

We also came across a couple of border patrol stops... for those who don't know the road that goes from Yuma to San Diego follows very very closely to the Mexico border.

Then when we were in CA we went over really big mountains that didn't look like normal mountains, they were actually huge boulders on top of one another. I felt like i was in the Flintstones...

We got to the San Diego Zoo right when they opened at 9am and it was amazing.

This is the 17yr old panda that has fathered 3 children at the zoo. He was ADORABLE. I wanted to take him home. These hippos were GIGANTIC! I could see all the individual hairs on his snout!

They had 3 polar bears, i think two were cubs of the mother. They were playing and splashing together in the water. To be that close was spectacular.

They also ate carrots :)

They had 3 baby tiger cubs with their mother. Two stayed by the glass, but one was adventurous and hung out up near its mother. Below is the single cub

We left around 1pm and went to check into our hotel bayside. (which there were protesters against prop. 8 everywhere) we ate at elephant and castle mmmm the drove out to La Jolla, which is one of the most beautiful places on earth. We stayed there until sunset, walking around the tidal pools and watching the seals on the beach. (My sandels were on for like 5 minutes)

The Seal Beach

Sunset..Kenn in his element. I think the my bare feet rubbed off on him :)We drove back to the hotel, then walked like a mile to the Gas Lamp District and had a really yummy sushi dinner. The Hotel was nice except that the train kept sounding its horn all night (which was near the harbor). Got up made our 6:40am flight to JFK. They had personal tvs on the flight so Kenn was able to watch ESPN... Got to JFK where its just chaos and dirt and unhappy people. we were due to leave at 4:10pm, we left at like 6? and then we were 18th to take off the tar mat... so we got to BWI at like 6:30. Picked up B (who was not too happy with me) and went home. Kenn went over to the 98rock radio station where he was interviewed at 11pm for his show the following night. So then Monday (last night) Kenn played his first show with his band "Recast". Gail watched Brandon so my parents and I could go, and it was a great show! Kenn did awesome! My camera wasn't working well so i unfortunately do not have any pictures. So that was our trip! It was awesome. Just getting back to normal for the holiday rush!

Love,
Heather