JULY ROAD TRIPPIN'

Decided to take some time off after bustin' my butt for the July UCU show in Seattle. Stopped to visit my good friends in Kamilche WA on my way back to Portland.. They have a sweet spot with a view of Totten Inlet, Puget Sound.
Spent 2 nights there catching up over food and wine while sitting in a hot tub with a view. This is what summer should look like!
I magically bonded with the neighbor's dog.. it would just put it's nose right up to my nose and stare into my my eyes. No sniffing or licking just a soul grabbing stare.. I called him "Grampa Dog: Keeper of Kamilche"
The next day, my friend Sarah and I drove into Shelton to do some thrifting. Not only were we greeted by a sea of Garfields, but I found an incredible one piece leopard print short sleeved jump suit that fit me PERFECTLY as well as a googley-eyed walnut perched next to a bowling bowl which I have now christened as my lucky volvo talisman.

Next morning, I put on my new jumpsuit and reluctantly headed back to Portland. Dropped off the ol' Volvo then got in a 15 passenger van with my 2 ladyfriends and drove down to LA for fun. (We were returning the rented van for a Japanese band that had just toured from LA to Seattle) That thing was HUGE. Thank gawd for A/C... holy shit it was hot.

Day 2 we made a detour east in search of the Yuba River outside of Nevada City.. We'd heard there was a sweet swimming spot there so we fumbled our way through twists and turns and questionable directions to Mountain Dog swimming hole. The sun was setting by the time we got there, but the water was warm and the giant rocks were still hot from the sun. Stayed in Nevada City that night. Super cute, quaint little town with a bit of a hippy/trippy vibe. We crashed at the National Hotel which I would categorize as "Victorian Tacky" with a flare for funky as evidenced by the karaoke happening in the hotel bar below. I downed a whisky then belted out a stunning rendition of "Life's Been Good" by Joe Walsh to a riveted crowd of 4 gathered at the bar.
My incredible moment of glory in Nevada City, never to be forgotten.

Got up, trolled around town while my buddies slept in and ate breakfast at an old fashioned diner full of bikers. Hit the road and finally made it to LA around 7pm. We were welcomed by our friends with beer and a killer taco spread, which we consumed under their newly acquired marbled floor gazebo encircled with metal unicorn rails that just happened to come with the backyard of the house that they just bought. Magical.

We ate a lot of tacos on that trip. Swam in some fancy pools and hit Griffith park for hikes and a lady picnic on my last day there. I even got to see one of the last shows of "Bob Baker's Marionette Theater" which is about to close it's doors forever after 50 years. I love the history and the architecture and hand painted signs and grittiness of LA. The jumpsuit and I will definitely be back soon.