Travel Blog

I've been asked by multiple people to keep an online blog to capture my experience and keep them posted during my 2 week sojourn on the road.

So I started giving out my personal blog, but then came to realize that it might not be such a good idea to share with everyone, what I post on this journal. It's not that I've posted anything that might be considered incriminating. Simply put, some things are a bit too personal to share with everyone.

Anyway, for now anything travel/roadtrip-related will be posted on my travel blog. :) Stay tuned.


http://thecompasspointswest.blogspot.com/

Let's Hang Out

Okay. So lately, I've been teased, and in a way, chastised, for my definition of "hanging out," particularly when it comes to "hanging out" with guys. Many of my female friends think that you can't just "hang out" with a guy without it becoming a date. They automatically assume that just because I spend time with a particular guy, that I'm technically "dating" him.

But I beg to differ. To start off, my definition of hanging out is simple: spending time with a person, be it a guy or a girl, and doing things that both of us enjoy without there being any hint of sexual attraction. Whether it's grabbing dinner together, playing tennis, going rock-climbing, or simply not doing anything but staying in to watch a movie, as long as both parties involved are enjoying each other's company and having fun, that's all that matters. Right?

Now, these situations may or may not involve at least some level of physical/emotional attraction. After all, we are human, and sometimes can't help but develop certain feelings for the other person with whom we spend a lot of our time. In fact, I'll be the first to admit that I'm guilty of that myself. There was one instance, a while back, when I found myself hanging out with a guy on whom I sort of developed a small crush. However when I realized that the feeling wasn't mutual, I quickly got over it, and moved on.

Moreover, I've heard countless stories of friends becoming lovers, and truth be told, the best relationships do blossom out of friendship - there's no arguing against that.

With that said, however, in most situations the feelings tend to be nothing more than platonic, at least that's what I found to be true for me. With that one exception that I mentioned before, rarely have I ever developed any sort of attraction to a guy I've hung out with; but that's partly due to my inability (or unwillingness...) to form emotional attachments to most people.

Anyway, bottom line is this: hanging out is neither a substitute word for "dating" nor is it a prelude to romance. So next time I "hang out" with a guy, please please don't call it a "date." >:)

Life is a bitch

Get used to it.

Itinerary 3

Ahhhhh...another change of plans.

Boston -> DC -> Gatlinburg, TN -> Memphis, TN -> Santa Fe, NM -> Taos, NM -> Mesa Verde, CO, -> Moab, UT -> Grand Canyon, AZ -> Joshua Tree, CA -> Los Angeles, CA -> San Francisco, CA

4,218 miles

Itinerary 2

After talking to my buddy Mike a few nights ago, I've come up with a different route, or should I say, he, came up with a different route. Instead of hitting up New Orleans, he suggested that I stop in Memphis instead. And from there, I'd drive down to Austin instead of San Antonio, and then take a sharp turn and head towards Santa Fe, New Mexico where the food is great, and the sites are beautiful. Well, that's according to what he told me.

Then, I'll be on my way to Hava Supai, which was highly recommended by another friend, who urged me to visit this place, which supposedly is one of the most beautiful locations on earth.

And finally, after a day or two of dwelling in the dessert land, I'll drive to Los Angeles, and then to San Fran.

To sum it up:

Memphis, TN

Austin, Texas

Guadalupe National Park

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Hava Supai, AZ

Joshua Tree, CA

Los Angeles, CA

San Francisco!!!

4,148 miles!

14 days and counting!

With only 2 more weeks to go until my big road trip, I've been busy planning my itinerary. Using google map as my bible, I've mapped out my route, which will take me from good old beantown, down the Appalachians, through the heart of the deep south, past the dry deserts of Texas and Arizona, and finally to sunny sunshine state, California.

I've given myself roughly a day or so at each pit stop to rest during the long haul across the country. We'll see if I'll be able to pull it off.

Pit Stops

Boston
- Leave morning of 5/23

[8 hours - 442 miles]

DC
- Arrive in DC 5/23
- Leave morning of 5/24

[8 hours - 495 miles]

Smoky Mountains National Park
Gatlinburg, TN
- Arrive 5/24
- Leave morning of 5/25

(865) 436-1200

[10 hours - 644 miles]

Louisiana
New Orleans
-Arrive 5/26 - 27
-Leave morning of 5/28

[8 hours 32 min - 532 miles]

Austin, TX
- Arrive 5/28
- Leave 5/29

[13 hours - 903 miles]

Santa Fe, NM

[6 hours 50 mins - 470 miles]

Grand Canyon

[6 hours - 375 miles]


California
Joshua Tree
- Arrive 6/2
- Leave 6/3

[2 hours - 128 miles]

Los Angeles

[5 hours - 270 miles]

Pinnacles National Monument
- Arrive 6/3
- Leave 6/3

[2 hours and 30 min - 125 miles]

San Francisco
- Arrive 6/3
- Leave 6/4

[1 hour - 44 miles]

Sonoma
- Arrive 6/4

6/6 - Fly back to Boston


TOTAL: 4,185 miles!!!!!

Road Trip Destinations

1. Boston <-> DC
2. DC <-> Atlanta, GA
3. Atlanta, GA <-> New Orleans, LA
4. New Orleans, LA <-> Austin, TX
5. Austin, TX <-> San Diego, CA
6. San Diego, CA <-> San Francisco, CA

New apartment

Moved into my new Beacon Hill apartment. Excited about not having a roommate. Psyched about living in downtown.

I'm about 90% done unpacking. Just gotta set up the bed, and voila! I'll be home. :)