May 2009 Archives

I'm still sorting through my photos from Vegas and will be posting them shortly. In the meantime, there's been a song playing repeatedly in my head for the past few hours that needs to be extracted. It's the Lee Marvin version of "Wand'rin' Star" from the Lerner and Loewe musical, Paint Your Wagon (one of my dad's favorite films¹).

Mud can make you prisoner and the plains can bake you dry.
Snow can burn you eyes but only people make you cry.
Home is made for comin' from, for dreams of goin' to
Which, with any luck will never come true.
I was born under a wand'rin' star.
I was born under a wand'rin' star.

Do I know where hell is? Hell is in hello.
Heaven is "Goodbye forever. It's time for me to go."
I was born under a wand'rin' star.
A wand'rin', wand'rin' star.

¹ In other words, I blame/credit him for first introducing the tune to me many years ago.

Late yesterday morning, we walked over to the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, just to see how the festivities were proceeding.

It was a beautiful day, so we took our time strolling by the various booths selling a wide array of items -- food, wine, beer, arts and crafts, health and beauty products, home improvement products, travel packages, and more. There were rides for little kids and a rock wall for big kids. There were two stages where bands played music throughout the day.

After doing a full circuit, I grabbed a seven-dollar garlic chicken sandwich and M grabbed a serving of cheese-covered mushrooms. (What's the point of going to a mushroom-centric event if one doesn't try a mushroom?) We enjoyed our midday snack on the lawn of the community center.

Afterward, we walked home by way of Monterey Road, through the heart of downtown. It was a ghost town, one of the sad results of shifting the event over a block. Every place seemed closed or empty, with the exception of Rosy's at the Beach, which was packed as usual.

By the way, if you look at the map carefully, you may notice the legend seems intent on pointing out where one can buy drinks. There are large symbols for beer, wine, and liquid in general. At first glance, you may think the map makes no mention of restrooms, but it does; they're just harder to find. One has to waste precious seconds searching for the word "toilets", which is fine when one has seconds to spare, but a nuisance when one is in need of the facilities -- a condition one is likely to find oneself in after consuming all that beer and wine. I think the event organizers would be well-served to give toilets their own symbol next year. I'm just saying.

The Disney Blog reports that Kris Allen, last night's American Idol winner, participated in Disney's "What's Next?" ad campaign right after he won. I'm guessing it's part of an effort to promote the relatively new American Idol Experience attraction at Disney's Holloywood Studios theme park.

He's the second Idol to record such a commercial. The first Idol to do so was last year's winner, David Cook. I don't know about you, but I like his ad more.

By the way, I should mention I wasn't paid to embed either of these videos in my journal. Sadly, I did so voluntarily and for comparison purposes only. What's even sadder is that I would have embedded a third video if it were available: Adam Lambert's version of the ad. That would have been something to see (and hear).

In just thirty-five minutes, the nation will witness one of the most lopsided finals in American Idol history as Adam Lambert wipes the stage with Kris Allen. That isn't to say Allen won't do well. I'm sure he'll give solid performances. Unfortunately, they won't stand a chance against Glambert's powerhouse productions.

Friday

Late night flight, salad at McDonald's before bedtime at Excalibur.

Saturday

Starbucks, Whole Foods, and Valley of Fire State Park (scrambling around sandstone). Lunch at Mon Ami Gabi. Strolls through "Paris", "Venice", and "Rome". A wild gondola ride. A mild night of babysitting.

Sunday

McDonald's. A long drive to Mount Charleston for lunch. A monorail ride. The conservatory and fountains of Bellagio. A tram ride to Mandalay Bay for dinner (Trattoria Del Lupo) and a show (The Lion King).

Monday

Last chance for buffet foiled. Denny's, a dollar lost (penny by penny), and home we go.

This weekend, M and I will be visiting Las Vegas, Nevada with her sister's family (sister, husband, toddler, and infant) and her mom.

If this trip were only for us, I'm sure we would have chosen someplace more woodsy and less deserty, but this trip is for M's mom, who specifically requested the city inspired by the television show starring Josh Duhamel. (I've been told his last name doesn't rhyme with "camel", but that hasn't deterred me from pronouncing that way.)

This will be my second time to Vegas. My last (and first) visit was way back in December 2000. I went with my folks and sister. If I had to sum up that trip in a word, it would be "unpleasant". Don't get me wrong, I had fun hanging out with the family and I found the extravagance of the strip amazing -- the architecture, the lights, the shows, the casinos, the buffets. But my amazement was marred by two things:

1. Gambling. More accurately, losing at gambling. While I was there, I lost roughly eighty bucks. Now, if I had lost it all in one shot, perhaps after a lucky winning streak, it wouldn't have been so bad. Unfortunately, I started off losing and continued to lose (in 25 or 50-cent increments) over a period of several days, in the dimly lit confines of several casinos. It left me with a rather unpleasant impression of Vegas.
2. Allergies. An hour after we arrived at our hotel (the Monte Carlo), my allergies started acting up. I blame it on the cigarette smoke that seemed to be everywhere. Ironically, my worst attack had nothing to do with smoking. It happened at the Excalibur, when we went to see the Tournament of Kings, a dinner show featuring knights riding horses and jousting. Apparently, when I'm in an enclosed space with galloping horses, I lose the ability to breathe and gain the ability to wheeze and cough uncontrollably. A few minutes into the show, I had to rush outside and wait for my windpipe to reopen and fresh air¹ to fill my lungs. I eventually recovered, but the ordeal reinforced my unpleasant impression of Vegas.

I'm hoping I'll be able to sum up this trip with a more positive word. That may be a challenge, though, because of two factors:

1. Heat. It's going to be hot in Vegas this weekend. The highs for the next four days will be 96, 100, 102, and 98 degrees, respectively. I'll likely be inside most of the time, and likely wearing a t-shirt and shorts, but I'm not looking forward to stepping outside, which is a key part of my Plan for having a good time (see below).
2. The Excalibur. Out of all of the hotels and resorts on the strip, M unwittingly booked the location that holds my worst Vegas memory. While I could view it as a cruel trick of fate, I intend to view it as chance to replace a bad memory with a good one (or a not-so-bad one, at the very least).

Of course, I won't be going unprepared. This time around, I'm armed with a Plan for making this Vegas trip enjoyable. It includes:

• gambling less. I figure if I minimize my gambling time, I'll minimize my losing time.
• medicating myself. I'm bringing plenty of antihistamines and nasal decongestants, which I can take every four to six hours, as needed.
• avoiding horses. The general idea is to avoid circumstances where horses and I have to be in the same room. This should be easy, but I'll be vigilant for anything that neighs.
• avoiding Vegas. While we're there, we plan to visit Hoover Dam (east of the city) and Mt. Charleston (west of the city). I'm also hoping to see other areas of Lake Mead National Recreation Area while visiting the dam, but that will depend on how well we deal with the aforementioned heat.

As long as I stick to the Plan (and as long as there isn't a horse loose on any of the premises) I should have a pleasant Vegas trip.

¹ Fresh air with a hint of smoke.

As far as I know, there are only four ways into San Jose from Morgan Hill:

A. Highway 101
B. McKean Road
C. Hale Avenue/Santa Teresa Boulevard
D. Monterey Road

Highway 101 is the best known and most used route. Barring accidents, it's also the fastest route, making it the primary path of commuters, who use all four northbound lanes and ignore the 65 mile-per-hour speed limit to get into America's newest million-person city (1,006,892 people to be exact) as quickly as possible¹.

McKean Road is probably the least known, least accessible, and least traveled of the four routes. It's also the windiest and slowest of the bunch. It enters San Jose at its southern tip -- right by Almaden Quicksilver Park. It's a two-lane road with a peak speed limit of 40 mph (I believe). It's a popular road for motorcyclists on the weekend.

I like to think of Hale Avenue/Santa Teresa Boulevard (it switches names at Bailey Avenue) as the back door into San Jose². Most folks who use it are traveling only as far as south San Jose. Like McKean, it has two lanes and peaks at 40 mph.

While those three roads are fine ways to reach San Jose, my favorite way is Monterey Road³. It's faster and more direct than McKean or Santa Teresa, but not as packed as Highway 101. It's a four-lane divided expressway that has a speed limit of 55 mph (although most folks zip along at 65 mph).

To me, it's the side entrance into San Jose that just happens to be on the same side as the main entrance (101). I'd say 90% of the cars that take it in the morning turn off at Bernal Road (to reach Highway 85) or Blossom Hill Road. I'm part of the 10% that takes it all the way into downtown.

I like Monterey Road because hardly anyone uses it, even during commute hour. It's entirely possible to cruise along at a decent clip with nobody ahead of you or behind you for a quarter-mile, which may not be much in other parts of the country, but is nearly impossible in a place as bustling as the Bay Area.

My favorite stretch of Monterey Road is the 5.5 miles between Old Monterey Road (just before the railroad overpass) and Bailey Avenue.

Along this scenic stretch, one passes a number of landmarks and points of interest that give it a bit of character. For fun, here is a list of the ones I can remember:

• a water tower
• two rundown motels (one offering free HBO)
• a liquor store
• a community garage
• two RV resorts
• an RV repair yard
• an orchard
• a grass farm
• three construction yards
• a high school
• a charter school
• six stoplights
• a fruit stand selling apricots and cherries
• a Filipino restaurant (Pinoy Lechon BBQ & Grill)
• an abandoned sushi restaurant
• a model aircraft skypark
• a massive billboard promoting a Catholic radio station
• the Coyote Creek Golf Club
• a vintage sign for an abandoned roadside eatery (15 Mile Stop)
• a small outpost of five ranch-style homes (behind a concrete wall)

In the morning, Monterey Road eases me into the day. Right now, it's the sunrise and the glow on the rolling hills I enjoy. In the fall and winter, I'm fond of the fog.

In the evening, this corridor of trees, fields, farms, and hills offers a relaxing transition from work to home. For a short while, I'm able to imagine I'm somewhere else -- on a road trip or on the open road. The effect is particularly potent when the sun is setting or there's a train racing along the railroad track that parallels the road.

On the rare days when I have to drive to work, Monterey Road is one of those unique roads that makes commuting by car enjoyable, which is why it's my favorite way to San Jose.

¹ It should be noted that these same people drive even faster on all four southbound lanes to escape the city at night.
² I suppose that makes McKean the "secret" entrance into town.
³ It's a road of many names. Besides Monterey Road, it's also referred to as Monterey Highway, Monterey Street, Route 82, and El Camino Real.

In just fifteen minutes, the last three contestants in the competition perform. Conventional wisdom says Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert will make it into the Top Two and Adam will win it all. The wisdom is so conventional, I'm actually hoping it gets knocked on the head and tomorrow's results find Kris Allen safe, just for laughs. But first, the live-ish chronicling of tonight's performances.

Time it takes to walk 100 feet: 15 seconds
Time it takes to send a friend a text message¹: 15 seconds
Time it takes to do both activities simultaneously: 30 seconds
Chance of unexpectedly walking into a tree, doing both activities simultaneously: 65%
Chance of unexpectedly walking into a tree, doing both activities consecutively: 5%²

Conclusion: People who enjoy walking into trees (unexpectedly³) should send text messages while walking.

¹ "OMG, I can't believe Allison is gone! Danny sucks!"
² There's always a chance. One could be walking along and spot a pretty girl across the street, text messaging and walking at the same time. This particular girl might be on a collision course with, say, a tree. Out of concern for her safety, one might try to shout out a warning, but before uttering a word, one walks into a tree of one's own.
³ I added this qualification out of consideration for the folks who derive pleasure from walking into trees intentionally. (And you know they're out there.)

Adam, Allison, Danny, and Kris -- they are this season's Final Four. Collectively, I think we know who will be in the Final Two, but for another week, we'll go through the motions and say our proper farewells to Allison and Kris (in that order, hopefully). Elimination at this point is ceremonial. These four have had enough time to carve out their artistic identity and find their target audience. I'm sure The Powers That Be will make sure the music of all four contestants will be readily available on iTunes and at Target for us to purchase. In fact, I'm sure they already have their songwriters churning out singles and album fillers as we speak. The fun starts in just thirty minutes.

For one weekend every spring, Henry Coe State Park opens its back door (a.k.a. the Bell's Station entrance) and allows visitors to explore the eastern half of the park, an area normally accessible only to backpackers with ample vacation time. During the weekend, the Pine Ridge Association (the park's official volunteer organization) offers folks a bundle of backcountry goodies, including free shuttle service (to minimize vehicle impact), guided hikes, painting/photography walks, campfire shows, and more.

This year, M and I decided to enter the lottery for a one-night camping pass. We applied in February and received word in late March (via snail mail) that we had gotten a spot. While it was quaint (and exciting) to find that self-addressed stamped envelope in the mailbox, I'm looking forward to a time when the whole process can happen online.

Anyway, last Saturday, we packed Kangaru (our new blue Subaru Outback) and were on the road by 9:30 AM. It took us roughly thirty minutes along 101 South and 152 East to reach Bell's Station, which is about seven miles northeast of the 152/156 interchange (or five miles past Casa de Fruta, the fruit stand-cum-town). It took us another thirty minutes along the Kaiser-Aetna Road to reach our spot at Pacheco Creek Crossing. The road was so dusty, Kangaru was completely tan by the time we arrived at camp.

There were at least a dozen cars already parked along the road when we arrived, and while I would have preferred a quieter place to camp, we chose to stick with the crowd since we're still newbies when it comes to camping.

After reserving a sunny spot, a suitable distance from our more seasoned camping neighbors, with our stately white-and-blue-checkered camp chairs from Target, we set out for a few hours of hiking.

While M visited Will's Pond, I hiked to Pacheco Falls via the Pacheco Ridge Road and volunteer trail. According to the handout, this "shorter but rougher way" to the falls was 5.4 miles long and had 1,540 feet of climbing. For the curious, the longer, "easier" way was 12.7 miles long, with a gain of 2,680 feet, which sounds longer, but not necessarily easier than the way I chose.

The first mile was the toughest part. After two creek crossings, the dirt road/trail climbed steeply to the Pacheco Ridge, which offered a nice view of Walsh Peak.

I followed the relatively level ridge line for more than a mile before coming upon a pile of rocks topped with a fluorescent pink flag, which indicated the beginning of the volunteer trail (I assumed). For the next quarter-mile, I scrambled down the steep grassy slope, following the fluorescent flags, hoping they didn't lead me astray.

When I reached the falls, I met the folks on the 10 AM guided Pacheco Falls hike. There were three of them -- the guide, the assistant guide, and their sole charge. All were nice fellows and since I wasn't in a hurry, I joined them on the rocky outcropping overlooking the falls. The most prominent feature of the falls was the black cliff above it.

The falls were dry. Looking down, all I could see were a few remnant pools of water. It looked nothing like the first photo on this page.

I joined the group for the return hike. On our way back, we made a quick detour to Hole in the Rock, one of the coolest spots in all of Coe.

When I got back to camp, M was already there. We relaxed for the rest of the afternoon, moving our chairs to keep them out of the shade. We cooked dinner using my new backpacking stove. I figured it was best to get the hang of it in a low-key setting.

As the sun set, the wind picked up and the temperature dipped. We packed away the chairs and prepped Kangaru for the night. With the rear seats folded down, the back of the car was big enough for the two of us to sleep comfortably -- legs outstretched, elbows unimpeded. I slid the moon roof panel open so we could watch the stars until we drifted off.

Considering I was actually able to fall asleep for more than four hours straight (a record for a first night of any camping/backpacking trip), I'd say camping in the Outback was a good idea. I awoke (just before seven) with a stiff back, but I chalk that up to being prone for a solid eight hours.

While M slept a little longer, I took a morning stroll to Tie Down Peak. I went north on the Kaiser-Aetna Road for 2.5 miles until I reached Tie Down Trail. The road had a few steep stretches, but was fine otherwise. Along the way, two volunteer-driven shuttles stopped to ask me if I needed a ride to Orestimba Corral, which was kind of them.

I was glad to leave the dusty road and follow the single-track trail into the greenery of the trees and hills. It was beautiful and so serene.

The reward for a bit of strenuous climbing was a spectacular view of the surrounding wilderness.

I followed the ridge until I reached Tie Down Peak. I was tempted to climb to the top, but since I didn't want to take the chance of injuring my ankle again, I decided to save the scramble for another day. I followed the fluorescent flags around the peak, down the North Fork Trail, and back to the car.

At camp, M had Kangaru packed and ready to go. I wanted to stay longer, but we needed to be in Napa that afternoon. Our early departure only made me more eager for next year's backcountry weekend. If we're lucky enough to get a spot, I plan to stay two nights and find a quieter place further down the road to camp.

You can read more about the backcountry weekend on Coe's site. You should also read Calipidder's outstanding account of her backcountry backpacking trip. Finally, you can see a few more photos from our trip on Flickr.