San Francisco. The name of the city alone inspired the soundtrack that played in our minds, headlined by Scott McKenzie and woven into the fabric of the clearest blue skies.
As the mercury pushed 100 degrees in North Carolina and a hot July transitioned into a hotter August, we packed our bags for the promise of some reprieve. Our steamy southern home was beckoning us to a land of flower crowns, crashing waves, infinite days of Goldilocks temperatures that were just right. We imagined driving over the Golden Gate Bridge with an open top convertible, passing the people in motion in Scott’s song, just like John Stamos and the Olsen twins.
Walking out of the plane, we were shocked to see everyone bundled in North Faces and micro-puff jackets. The stiff ocean breeze and layer of thickening fog was our wake-up call. This was not the sun drenched, melt-your-popsicle California trip that Katy Perry promised. It was more like the quote, understandably misappropriated to Mark Twain, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” Our popsicles would be fine.
This would be the first visit to California for either of us, so our misconception of reality was to be expected. California can conjure a lot of controversy, especially in the American south. The “Visit California” commercial you see on TV, where Arnold Schwarzenegger and Rob Lowe are ziplining through a redwood forest towards a world renowned winery, seems excessive, and even braggadocious. After traveling to the state, it makes a little more sense. It is an incredibly expansive, diverse and beautiful part of the country. To flatten it out as a place where artificially enhanced people discuss the various routes to get to the hot yoga studio is funny, but misguided. We witnessed some of the most incredible scenery, tasted some of the best food and met some of the most genuine people.
Our itinerary was ambitious and tested the endurance of our Ford Fiesta rental (no open-top convertibles available unfortunately) and our road tripping aptitude. We wanted to find out as much about this foreign land as we could. After over 900 miles on the odometer, in just five short days, we only saw a fraction of the state. Our trip was fueled by Animal Style In-N-Out burgers, smashed, soggy uncrustables and restaurants with Michelin Stars. We saw the tallest cliffs, the biggest trees and some iconic skylines. Nowhere else in the world would this be possible. In California, we were able to feel some of the most pronounced emotions. The songs we’ve heard about the state became alive and entrenched in our minds. We found ourselves constantly on the run, with our shadows weighing a ton, but in the best possible way. These feelings and more could only be fully expressed, we now believe, while our tiny white hatchback barreled down the 101. We get it, Arnold.
Expected “Street Crossings”
Half Dome cable hike- Spectacular, grueling, and terrifying. This hike requires a permit and a strong constitution. Josiah Whitney said in 1868 that the steep granite dome would “never be trodden upon by human feet.” We trodded upon it.
Unexpected “Street Crossings”
Michelin Star Rating – Could they really be any better than the best restaurants we’ve eaten at? Does this French tire company doling out subjective accolades really know what they are doing? In the case of the two restaurants we ate at, they absolutely do.
California Produce – We value the Raleigh farmers market and our state as an agricultural apex. We tasted some fresh California nectarines that shook us to the core. We asked the waiter what they did to make them so delicious. He said that is just how they taste here.
Our favorite shared memory:
Rounding a corner as we entered Yosemite Valley and seeing the sun rising above Half Dome. It was the perfect moment to reflect on our previous night, while looking forward to our future destination.
