This is the furthest south I’ve ever been! I was in Nashville once a couple years ago, but this is just a little further south than Nashville. I left beautiful Santa Cruz late this morning after snapping a few photos around town with Joy before taking off. So I headed back to Highway 1. I have now driven along the entire Pacific Coast along Highway 1 between here and Long Beach, WA. …

This morning was great. I woke up and had the pool house all to myself, I didn’t set me alarm, I just got up when I felt like it, somewhere around 10am. I woke up a few times this morning and relaxed in bed, which I haven’t been able to do for quite sometime. While I’m thinking let’s count up the places I’ve slept so far at hosts. Not counting camping out a couple nights and a couple nights in motels I believe I’ve slept at 21 different places since September 8th. …

“Don’t you get bored driving all the time?” That’s one of the most common questions I’ve been asked to this point. Well, I don’t get bored too often. The best thing is I haven’t taken any of these drives in my life before; it’s all brand new territory. It’s not like I’m taking the same ol’ route again and again. And usually I’m so excited to get to my next destination that it goes by pretty fast. …

I now find myself in a great little pool house near the beach in Santa Cruz. I love this little place. It’s cozy and I feel pretty good here. I’m staying two nights here in Santa Cruz to see the area before heading down to San Luis Obispo. My official host is Joy, who is a hair stylist here in Santa Cruz and I’ve been talking with her online for quite sometime, so we figured we night meet up while I’m out this way. …

I’m writing from Bill Hare’s recording studio here at his house in Milpitas. Ever since I first saw a sound board on TV or something I’ve always wanted to see one in person and just play with all the switches, dials, and everything else. It’s a nice little studio here. Most of Bill’s work is done with a cappella groups, however today Bill and his friend Charlie are working on some Nirvana slash Pantera type music, recording all the bits and tacking out the basics for the song. …

Now that I’m in California there was one stop that was first on the list, In ’n’ Out Burger. I think I’m convinced that it’s the best fast food burger joint in the country. The menu is easy and simple, it’s got character, and it’s just a little different (and better) than McDonald’s and Burger King. From there Bill gave me a driving tour of some of the area such as the great shopping areas and the Winchester House, which is quite fantastic. …

It was a long drive down the coast along Highway 101 and Highway 1, so long I had to split it up between two days. I crashed at a motel outside of the Redwood National so I could continue exploring the Redwoods more the next day. Then on went the drive. I left to see the Redwoods at 8am yesterday morning and didn’t get to my host here in San Jose until about 8:30pm. …

My time in Roseburg was in large represented by press and media. I can’t deny that all the newspapers, radios, and TV stations are all part of the experience on this trip. Let’s break it down while in Roseburg: 4 times on the air on Best Country 103, on the air once for the oldies station, 2 TV spots on the news, one newspaper article, and then the Hallmark Channel following me around all day. …

What a day, a little bit of this and a little bit of that, here’s how it all went down. This is one of the books. 7:00 AM Meet Randy at the station for a morning radio interview to talk to Roseburg, hear some feedback from listeners, share some stories, and get a feel of what it’s like to work at a radio station. If I was a better speaker I might consider it some day. …

Today I was given the quintessential Roseburg experience. And I survived, barely, but I made it. It was a grand day of kind, amazing, unique, and generous people. There will never be another day like today, it couldn’t be duplicated even if we tried. What I really love is the memories that you can’t sum up in writing, photographs, or any other way. It’s the small anecdotes and jokes that are told along the way, here and there in between activities and during a little break in the busy day. …