a week long roadtrip with friends pt.1

In the early summer of 2021 I did something. I went on a one week long roadtrip with my friends.

Now this isn’t my first long roadtrip. In fact I’ve driven across the country in 2017, from Michigan to California with a U-Haul trailer behind a little compact SUV. Just a friend and I venturing west. My friend needed to move for her new job and I was more than happy to help out.

Personally, going into this roadtrip (2021) wasn’t as intimidating considering I had previous experience.

All we were doing was traveling across the southwest visiting national parks and going on hikes. This trip included four other friends and I’m glad my friends are organized. Notions? I didn’t know such an app existed. Check out the planning we did right here . My only job in the group was to find the hikes with the best views because, yeah, I’m the photographer.

One hundred percent this was going to be a roadtrip testing our friendship as a group. Anna and I arrived to our friend’s (Chhy) home in SoCal several days early before our southwest roadtrip started. Our other two friends (Sarah and Jess) were arriving two days before take off. Anna, Chhy and I in those few days went to Sequoia National park and looked at some really old trees (General Sherman was a celebrity) and hiked to pretty cool waterfall. I’m deathly afraid of heights so even though I’ve experience hiking and driving on switchbacks they’re horrible. It’s zigzagging on a two lane road and when you’re on the outer lane all you have to do is look down from your window and theres a 2000ft drop right there. Amazing. What a great feeling.

Chhy would say, “Just zoom down them! Zoomies! Zoom! Zoom!”

I swear, sitting in that RAV4 on switchbacks while your friend drives like she’s in a real life Mario Kart is terrifying. Imagine rollercoaster screams. I felt bad but also very much relieved for the driver in front of us (when we finally caught up to another car) kept it cool and level headed, safe and slow. Much to my friend’s dismay.

“Whats the hold up? C’mon man! Just zoom! Just let gravity do the work! Zoom down or pull off to the side so I can go past you. C’mon…”

After Sequoia we headed back home and Anna took up the late night driving shift. Without giving too much details she very much drove well over the speed limit. Partially due to exhaustion and lack of conversation between the three of us. I was asleep and Chhy wasn’t making a peep (probably asleep or not). I only woke when my head smacked against the seat belt buckle. To which then, I sat up and saw the empty freeway we sped through. I don’t know how we made it back but we did. She was going fast, like I’m talking racing car fast. In the end I would rate the ride 6/10, sorry Anna.

Fast forward, Sarah and Jess have finally met up with us and everyone’s getting ready at Chhy’s place. It’s fun to pack with friends and see everyone’s dynamic together. Chhy is chill and level headed. If one of us caught fire somehow during the trip, one hundred percent she would remain calm and cool. Sarah has the same vibe but she a bit more of responsible adult who is also the mom of the group. While Chhy would simply accept whatever is thrown on us on this trip. Sarah would definitely be the person that lays out the options for us. She’s rational, level headed but just as easy going. Jess…Jess is Jess. And I love Jess, because she is my fellow Art Nouveau buddy and we always give each other hugs. I’m not a hugging person but I’m a hugging person with her. She’s fun to be around, like a quiet friend but not too quiet friend where if you told each other lame jokes it’s just easy entertainment for hours. Also Jess loves dogs and if you show her doggo pictures she just might cry and squeal in happiness. Now there’s Anna. Anna and I? We’re like cut from the same cloth but on opposite ends. The differences between Anna and I is that I take naps and she doesn’t. Anna is ready to risk it all when Chhy shouts parkour, while I’m less likely because, I’m not a lunatic. The two of us get along really well. So much that when we travel to the west coast it has become tradition to attack each other awake in the morning. Think pillow fights but actually fighting.

That’s the hiking crew, stay tune for more chaos later.






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