I got an email last week from my friend Mike inviting me to his Labor Day cookout. I graduated from high school with him and haven’t seen him since my first visit to San Francisco in 2004.  In his email the first line of the directions read, “101 North over the red bridge.” I had to think for a minute before I realized that he was referring to the Golden Gate Bridge.

If you show anyone in the world a picture of this bridge, chances are they will know where it is.  It has become the symbol of San Francisco.  It is perfectly named because it is the “gate” that separates the Pacific Ocean from the San Francisco Bay.  From the bridge, you get a great view of the bay, Alcatraz Island and The City (highlighted by the Transamerica Building and Coit Tower) in the background.

When I was planning my 5,200 mile drive out here, I made it a point to enter San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge.  I had seen it many times, but never had driven over it.  I planned to enter the city over the bridge even though it was the least direct route to get to where I have been staying.  I literally had to drive around San Francisco and approach it from the north.

Sunday, I rode up to the cookout with Nino, his wife Melissa, and their daughter Julia.  Being a holiday weekend, the traffic was terrible and the thirty or so mile trip took us almost two hours.  To get to Mike’s house, I would have to ride over the red bridge for the second time.  When I saw it, a feeling fell over me that I haven’t felt anywhere other than Boston.  It was the first time I had associated any place other than Boston as home.  I never felt “home” in Ohio.  It was always a place that I knew I would someday leave.

The almost two hour trip wasn’t that bad, because the majority of the time was spent trying to get to and over the red bridge. The views were spectacular.  Secretly, I actually didn’t mind the traffic because it gave me more time to enjoy the sights.  Good friends, good conversation and great views can make an almost two hour/thirty mile trip quite tolerable.

The red bridge will forever be a literal and figurative reminder of my journey west.  Seeing it will always remind me of my first day here.

It is the most beautiful bridge in the world, and now it is home.

Tonight, I went out with an old classmate of mine named Nino.  Nino and I went to high school together, but were only acquaintances back in the day.  We graduated the same year, but ran in different social circles.  To top it all off, before tonight the last time I saw him was graduation day back in June of 1991.

We’d trade an occasional message on Facebook every once in a while.  Usually, it was about the Celtics.  Nino loved to pick my brain about my thoughts on the team.  When my move to San Francisco became official, Nino was one of the first people I told.  I found out he was living about 15 minutes away from where I am living now.  Nino moved out to the Bay Area from Boston in 1997.

I missed Nino’s call this afternoon and on the message, his voice sounded much different than I remembered it.  Looking back on that now, it seems silly that I would even remember his voice after all this time.  After hearing his voice, I began to question if I even wanted to go.  I hadn’t seen the guy in nineteen years.  Would we even have anything to talk about?  Would the whole evening be awkward?

I decided to go because to make this move “work,” I need to establish roots out here.  I am used to having a large social network; Moving to a new place where I only know a few people has been quite the shock to my system.

I met him at his place and instantly we clicked like long lost pals.  We headed into The City for a nice dinner and also stopped at three different bars for some beers.  Throughout the course of the night, I learned that we have a lot more in common that I had ever even imagined.

Tonight was perfect for me.  Over the past few days, I’ve been really missing people at home and the reality of moving away has finally begun to set in.  With all that has happened recently, I’ve been wondering if I picked a bad time to make this move.  One night with Nino assuaged all of those fears.  It was great to hang with him and listen to him talk about my new city.  He showed me some really great places (with great scenery, if I may add) and tagging along with him, I felt like a local.

Thanks, Nino.  Tonight was the first night that San Francisco actually felt like home.

- A bunch of people have asked me what my new “home” has been like.  I’m staying in San Mateo in my friend Mike’s spare bedroom in his condo. He’s been very gracious and I wouldn’t have been able to make this move without his hospitality.  His condo complex is really nice.  I’ve described it as an “upscale Melrose place” to people.  It has a pool and a hot tub in the center of the courtyard.

- San Mateo is a really nice “suburb” of San Francisco. It is on the peninsula and the temperatures here run about 10 degrees warmer than in The City. I love living a life without humidity.

- I googled “Best breakfast in San Mateo” and found probably the best coffee shop in the area.  I know in my vast experience here I’m really not qualified to make that statement, but I’m standing by it.  I’ve been there four times and feel like a regular already.  I was in there Sunday and one of the employees remarked that she hadn’t seen me in a while.  It was pretty funny to hear that considering that I had just been in there three days prior.

- I also found a new church. It reminds me of my old church back home.

- The Bay Area is expensive. Boston has a high cost of living, but it really doesn’t compare. A gallon of gas (cheap stuff) will run you anywhere from $3.05-$3.35.  Sales tax is 9.5%. Everything costs more. A few days ago, I went to the grocery store and spent $60 like it was nothing.  It seemed like all I bought was bagels and fruit.  Paradise ain’t cheap, I guess.

- The last two days have been very hot for the area.  It is funny to live in a place where they consider temperatures in the 80’s to be hot.

- The Bay Area is full of Filipinos.  I am not longer “different” and suddenly I’ve become Everyman.  Hell, SFO airport is like little Manila.

- There are two main Boston bars here.  They are the “Connecticut Yankee” and the “Buccaneer” downtown.  My friends out here are partial to the Yankee, but the Buccaneer isn’t a bad time either. It is pretty cool to walk into a bar on the opposite coast and have the Red Sox game on both TV’s.

- Happy Hour has been a welcome addition to my life.  Boston so needs this.

- Best sushi in America? It’s here.

- People love to hear my story about moving cross-country.  Miss McCarley would certainly agree that “I’ve found my story to tell.”  It has been a pretty good ice breaker wherever I go.

- I really miss all my peeps (and my puppy) back home.  I’ve found that the best way to combat this is to drive around the city.  Seeing the skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay and feeling that brisk air are constant reminders why I picked up and moved 3,135 miles away.

Thanks for hanging in there with me.  I feel like I have left you hanging regarding the last part of my journey.  It has been difficult to write after what has happened over the past 10 days.  I just got back to the Bay Area last night after spending five days in Ohio for Mark’s services.

Last we left off, I was leaving Phoenix (Thanks again Jeff for being such a great host!) and headed to Vegas.  On the way, I stopped in Sedona (Arizona) and the southern rim of the Grand Canyon.  As I wrote earlier, I love the Grand Canyon and think it is something every American should see.  Visually, there is nothing in America like it.  However, I like Jackson better on the whole because there is so much more to do there.

Las Vegas is one of my favorite places.  I love interacting with strangers from all over.  I love the gambling.  I love the lights and the buzz.  Hell, I love just saying “VEGAS.”  I certainly don’t love the heat and it was over 100 degrees when I got there.  All that said, Vegas will forever be different for me from this point forward.

Vegas is where I heard the sad news about Mark.  My next entry will focus more about him.  However,  I have to say that I am glad my friend Frank and his wife Terri were with me when I got the news.  It is easier to take news like that with friends around.  They somewhat softened a devistating blow.  I don’t know what I would have done had I heard it on the road or if I was alone somewhere.

When I got the news, I abruptly ended the trip.  I checked out of my hotel in Vegas early, canceled my plans with friends and family in Southern California and decided to go directly to San Francisco.  I didn’t feel like traveling anymore.  Driving from Vegas to San Francisco last Wednesday was very difficult.  Between the tears and trying to piece together in my mind what (and why) happened, concentrating on the road was tough.

My plan all along was to drive around the city and make my last stop the Golden Gate Bridge.  Geographically, it wasn’t the most direct route.  I had to literally drive around the entire Bay Area and approach San Francisco from the north.  After driving 5,200 miles, adding an extra 75 didn’t seem like a big deal.

Arriving at the Golden Gate Bridge, I felt happy for the first time in 24 hours.  I was sad about Mark, but I was quite pleased to have completed the cross country journey.  I literally went “sea-to-shining-sea” and will probably never go on a trip like that again.  It was amazing and I have gained an even greater appreciation for this great nation of ours.  America truly is a beautiful land.

I thought I would be more emotional upon arriving in San Francisco.  I remarked to Jen via text that I was all cried out.  Since I have arrived, I fall in love with this area more and more each day.  I have also been wondering what took me so long to get here.  To me, the weather in the Bay Area is perfect.  It certainly doesn’t hurt that San Francisco is one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

I had to cut my trip a little short, but I finally did make it to California today.  This morning I started on the Las Vegas strip and ended my day at the Golden Gate Bridge.

I’ve been busy getting acclimated and will be back later today with a new entry to catch everyone up.

1) I think I posted this before, but I have not slept well on this trip at all.  Fatique is definitely setting in.  We’re running on two weeks now and thankfully I only have two states left.  Because of this, I’m going to try to get to sleep early tonight and this entry will be very short (and probably all over the place).

2) Saturday, I was driving through some state forest in Utah and almost hit a deer.  It was a close call and for a few seconds there I thought I was a goner.  The deer came from out of nowhere and I’m surprised I didn’t smoke my brakes.

3) I’ve been in Phoenix the past few nights and it is much better than anticipated.  Jeff has been a great host and it has been great to hang out with him after all these years; We’ve had a lot of laughs.  Also, the heat here has not bothered me like I thought it would.  We go from air-conditioned place to air-conditioned place.

Before I got to Phoenix, I was able to check out the north rim of the Grand Canyon for the first time.  The Grand Canyon is the most spectacular sight I’ve ever seen.  It simply takes my breath away every time.  I’ve been to the southern and western rims, but I like the northern rim the best.  Tomorrow, I’m headed to Sedona (AZ) to see the red rocks, back to the Grand Canyon (southern rim) and then I’m off to Vegas for a few days of R&R.  I can totally relax in Vegas.

I can’t believe I’m saying this (and yes, this is way beyond premature), but I’m loving it out here on the west side of the country.  Things are very different, but good different.  I think this change was exactly what I needed at this point in my life.  I have already begun to feel re-energized and this shift in perspective is serving me well.  I’m excited about the upcoming days more so than any other time in recent memory.

I cannot wait to get up to San Francisco to begin.

It is rare when I have trouble writing about a good experience.  It is even more rare when I visit a place that totally rocks my world.  I’ve been on a “Jackson High” since Tuesday night.  Everyone needs to see this magical place at least once.  Within minutes of arriving, I saw an antelope and a rainbow.  My friend Jen tried to tell me, but I could never fully believe her until I came here myself.  She was right.

I’ve been in Jackson for the past few days and I can honestly say it is unlike any place I have ever been.  I’ve seen antelope, moose, elk, bison and two amazing national parks.  I’ve lived in the shadow of the Grand Tetons and explored the wonders of Yellowstone National Park.  I’ve witnessed an eruption at Old Faithful and taken more amazing pictures than I ever have before in a 48-hour period.  I also experienced the first earthquake of my life (4.8 magnitude!).

Most importantly, I’ve spent some quality time with a dear friend who put her life on hold for me.  Seeing her in her element was the best part about Jackson and because of this our bond has become even stronger.  I’d be lying if I said her move away from Boston hasn’t influenced my decision to move to San Francisco.

Thanks Jenni for an amazing three days.  Everything you said about Jackson was true, and more.  I am very sad to leave you and can’t wait until our paths cross again.

I hope to get back to Jackson sooner rather than later.

See you soon!

When I got to Rushmore, I had a moment.  It is a cool place, but don’t think it was actually Mount Rushmore that caused it.  But, it was there that it hit me.  Right now, I am sitting in Jackson (Wyoming) which is 1980 miles from Burlington.  I have actually traveled farther than that, as I have not taken a direct route to get here.

At Rushmore, I came the realization that this was probably the best trip I was ever going to take.  This trip has been simply amazing.  The very best part has been catching up with old friends and getting to see them in their own elements.  Not many people get the chance to literally drive coast-to-coast and take their time in doing so.  I never ever thought I would get this opportunity.

Coming to this realization had a strong effect on me.  I am seeing a myriad of places I had only heard about before.  As my friend Dan said at lunch the other day, I am getting to see how the country fits together.  He also said that this was a very “American” thing to do.  I liked hearing that.

On this trip, I’ve learned to live out of my car.  I’ve also learned to do laundry in hotels.  This morning, I contemplated what the earliest time I could do laundry in a hotel was.  This decision was compounded the fact that it is almost Sturgis week in South Dakota and the hotel was full of bikers.  I totally thought I was going to get my butt kicked over dirty underwear.

I’ve also heard through Facebook that a lot of people are both envious and following along.  At first, I began to reconsider posting all the pictures on there as I went along (and was actually going to stop).  I’ve said it before, but I don’t like being an attention whore.  Hearing that so many people are interested and getting requests for more pictures has diminshed those fears.

I also came to realization that finally arriving at the Golden Gate Bridge is going to be very emotional for me.  It will mark the end of this long, strange (yet wonderful) trip and mark the real beginning to a new chapter in my life: the Western chapter.

I can’t think of a better place for my journey to end.

Tune in tomorrow for my thoughts on Jackson, the magical land.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Two entries for the price of one!

I’m a little behind on the updates, so I’ll give you a two for Tuesday.

After leaving Paris, I went to Dyersville, Iowa to see the “Field of Dreams” farm.  This was spectacular.  It is something I have always wanted to see, and it totally lived up to the hype.  The next stop was the Twins game in Minneapolis.  I really wanted to hit a Twins game because Minneapolis was one of five cities that I hadn’t seen an MLB game in.  The game and park were great.  The company was even better.

When my buddy E-man heard I was going to Minneapolis to see a Twins game, he set up this “blind date” for me.  It wasn’t a date-date.  He found someone to go to the game with me. One of his work associates lives in Minneapolis and met me at Target Field for the game.  His name was Allen.

Allen was a joy to watch a game  with.  E-man knew that we’d get along great, but I don’t think he knew how well we’d get along.  Much like everyone I talked to in Minneapolis, Allen is a solid guy.  The people there were so friendly and engaging.  Allen said it is a Minnesotan trait called “Minnesota nice.”  I wish everyone would adopt that trait because those people were fantastic.

Allen was as down-to-Earth as anyone I’ve ever met.  He is a passionate Minnesota sports fan, so the conversation was free and easy.  He was like the Minnesota version of me, only he had a funny Fargo-esque accent.  Another great thing about Minneapolis was the women.  Gotta love those Scandinavian roots up there…

After Minnesota it was off to South Dakota and the farthest west I have ever driven in a non-rental car.  South Dakota will easily win the most-coveted “State that surprised me the most” award.  It is more scenic than I ever thought it would be.  Both the Badlands and Mount Rushmore were certainly great stops to make.

When I got to Rushmore, I had a moment.

I’ll explain in my next entry tomorrow.

I am wicked tired, so this entry will be four very short blurbs:

1) If you aren’t on Facebook, you can see my photos from the trip here.

2) The Pro Football Hall of Fame was very cool.  I loved it because I am a football nut, but it definitely needs to be updated.

3) I was able to get inside Ohio Stadium today!  Pictures are in the link above.

4) I am in Cincinnati visiting family and friends until Thursday night.  I am going to get to see my ex-dog later today and I’m really excited about that.

Good night!