Interview with Rob Clifford of Salad Days

Salad Days is a indie/garage rock band from Melbourne, Australia. I met Rob this summer and went to a music festival with him in Portugal, we have a very similar taste in music. Rob is a very talented drummer and ukulele player (who as I type this is playing solo at an engagement party). Salad Days is an up and coming band in Melbourne and have been winning an on-going battle of the bands contest.

Me: "Tell me about yourself."

Rob: "I'm Robert Clifford, 21 year old student living in Melbourne, Australia"

Me: "What is the name of your band?"

Rob: "Salad Days, its made up of four guys."

Me: "How did you meet your band members?"

Rob: "We went to school together. We weren't really friends with each other, but something happened a year after we graduated, we saw each other at a party and we were talking about making music. We talked about having a rehearsal, and what was supposed to be just a rehearsal we ended up writing 3 songs."

Me: "how did you decide on what kind of music to make?

Rob: "We still cant decide what kind of music we want to make... our singer is a jazz singer and our guitarist is self taught, h wants to play more hard rock and our singer a different type of rock. You get this kind of weird mix of rock with different vocals, a mix of influences."

Me: "Whats your favorite part about performing?"

Rob: "The free beer you get when you play a gig.... no. Actually a few gigs ago there were people there (that we didn't know) that knew the words to one of our songs which was kind of cool. Seeing people enjoy music that you've written yourself is by far the best part. That was a huge milestone"

Me: "Where do you guys play mostly?"

Rob: "Wherever will have us. Mostly pubs and bars. Night clubs have started to do live music  to get people to come out earlier, so we've been doing that lately and it's pretty fun. Festivals, charity events, outdoor events, and battle of the bands"

Me: "Going to any festivals anytime soon?"

Rob: "I am, there's a festival on new years eve, called Snowglobe and one of my favorite artists just got announced as another headliner. And I'm going with this really cool chick."

 Me: "Wow sounds awesome. What is your favorite food?"

Rob: "Banana with peanut butter."

Me: "I hate bananas"

Rob:"Bananas with peanut butter on it."

Me: "Is that really your favorite food?"

Rob: "No? Not really. I don't know why I said that. It's just the first thing that came to mind. It's nice, it's really nice"

Me: "Is that really your favorite food? I'm thoroughly disappointed if it is."

Rob: "Haha, my favorite food is probably in-n-out."

Check them out!

triplejunearthed.com/SaladDays

www.facebook.com

Carmet Beach

It's been getting colder and colder everyday. It really bums me out, I am a cold blooded person and love sunshine. Saturday I awoke after getting the pleasure of sleeping in to a very hot sun. It seemed only logical to head to the beach on such a beautifully warm day.

As we drove further and further west the temperature dropped with every mile. Looking over the hills we saw what my friend Emma called the "fog monster" creeping over the peak. By the time we reached the Carmet beach we were surrounded by thick layer of heavy fog. We were slightly disappointed at the sight of the frigid beach but determined to make the most of it. We were at the beach and that alone was enough to keep us happy.

This is a really nice beach. This is a great beach for children or “adults” such as my friends and I with childlike tendencies. This beach is something out of Pirates of the Caribbean. I want to come back someday, fog or shine. I want to come with a bag of food and my wetsuit. Even though the water was 0 degrees there was still something inside me that was tempted to go in. We had a great time sitting in the sand with blankets , enjoying eachothers company and the scenery. There was a fair amount of other people at the beach but not enough to disturb us. Plus they had cute dogs so it was okay.

The girls I went with were pretty into rap so we mostly listened to rap on the beautiful drive. Some highlights include this Tyler the Creator song Jamba. I for some reason just really like Tyler. I think hes a talented rapper and just really hilarious. His interviews are ridiculous and addicting. Thurnis Haley, great character. Plus I have a weird crush on him so that doesn’t help. Anyways this songs dope.

Musical Highlights from Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending my favorite FREE music festival Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, in the heart of Golden Gate Park. I got to see some artists that I love and see old friends all while soaking up the ridiculously warm San Francisco weather. Although bluegrass is not my favorite type of music, I did find myself grooving to some bluegrass jams. The name of the festival is right in that its hardly strictly JUST bluegrass, it’s all types of music! Here are some of the musical highlights of the weekend:

• Father John Misty: Their set consisted of lead singer J. Tillman alone on the stage, sitting on a chair playing an acoustic guitar, inside a huge cardboard cut-out of an iphone. The last time I saw them perform was with the whole band so this came as a surprise to me. J. Tillman is a very funny guy and was being very ironic by sitting in a giant iphone. His witty banter never fails to entertain the crowd in between songs. The music was way mellower than it usually is. It was different and good at the same time. His voice was very well heard and the songs seemed to have more meaning when you can really hear the lyrics. I really enjoyed seeing Father John Misty this way, stripped down to the basics which really showed J’s talent and songwriting abilities. Of course it was not nearly as fun but I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless.
• Connor Oberst: Amazing. I have loved Bright Eyes (Connor Oberst’s band) since I was 12 years old. He has a unique voice and his lyrics are hauntingly poetic. Him and his band were great, very energetic and a lot of fun. The performance was flawless and beautiful. His band was vast and included a violinist, two guitarists, a keyboardist, and a drummer. The sound was very full and diverse; it was hard not to dance the entire time. I can’t wait until next year where I’m sure he will be back.
• The Devil Makes Three: This band always calls for a good time. Fun songs, lots of instruments, and great vibes. Their sound is a lot of fun and their performance was perfect. Their stage was bombarded with people and it seemed everyone wanted to see them. It was a blast.
• Gogol Bordello: What exactly is gypsy-punk rock music? It’s one hell of a good time that’s what it is. Gogol Bordello has got to some of the weirdest music ever (in the absolute best way possible). They are known for their most popular song entitled “Start Wearing Purple.” Need I say more? They are so fun, so rowdy, and so talented. Everyone as far as I could see was dancing and rocking out. The music and their energy was so contagious, everyone was enjoying themselves. I need to see them in concert again at a smaller venue and I need to be in that mosh pit. We watched them as the sun set behind them with the most beautiful San Francisco sunset. It was the perfect way to conclude a perfect weekend.
  

Live Blogging Harldy Strictly Bluegrass Festival

The Golden Gate transit, so useful, easy, so inexpensive. Every time I take this bus to this city I question why I don’t do it more often. This way I don’t have to deal with driving my huge car around the city. Parking is always a nightmare, and the last thing I want is to be stuck being designated driver. The bus was a very good choice. Here I am sitting next to an old man who seems to be sleeping. I am well rested and jittering with excitement for today marks day one of my favorite weekend of the year, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival. The closer we get, the more anxious I get. I’m worried about how exactly I’m going to get to Golden Gate park, but with Iphone in hand and bountiful public transportation at my disposal, I’m certain I’ll make it there.

The Muni bus pulls up to the curb at my destination, Golden Gate Park. There at the bus stop stands my adorable best friend Autumn. She gives me a big hug and hands me a flask full of Jack Daniels as we head into the flow of people following the current that leads us to the center of the park. There are people everywhere. Homeless people, clean hippies, dirty hippies, people in suits (who presumable just got off work), eco friendly stuck up pseudo-hippies, weird teenagers wearing tails and animal ears, weird teenagers wearing tutu’s, old bearded men in overalls, clean cut couples indulging in wine and cheese, families with children running around, and of course the 20 something college student looking for a good time with good music. I wouldn’t expect anything less from a free music festival in the heart of my favorite city. Everyone around me is either in a really good mood, really drunk, or both. Autumn and I rush to the stage that Father John Misty is playing at. We take a seat in the grass and quickly start meeting the outgoing and enthusiastic man sitting next to us. We indulge in conversation about the band we are about to see, and soak up this uncharacteristically warm San Francisco weather.

This is the beginning of day one and I’m already having a blast. Father John Misty plays a mellow acoustic set. While watching we run into some friends and end up hanging with them for the rest of the set. Immediately after, Autumn and I head to a different stage to see Connor Oberst. Man, it is HOT! I was not expecting this, this is not the San Francisco I know. The sun is bright and there is not a cloud in sight. It’s almost 5 and it’s this hot?! Inconceivable! Autumn and I make it to the front of the stage with no problem at all. Connor comes on and I am filled with excitement. Him and his band are phenomenal and I sing along with the poetic lyrics I love so much. Everyone is having such a good time. Something about the generosity of a free music festival, it rubs off on everyone in attendance. The guys behind us offers us some beer and of course we happily comply. Everyone is being so friendly and having so much fun.

Halfway through Connor Oberst’s set we climb up the hill to find my other best friend Sam, who goes to Chico State. We are now watching the show from up on a hill in the woods a bit. It is so beautiful here. I feel like I’m in a festival in the middle of a forest. Connor Oberst brings the ladies from First Aid Kit (the band that played before him) to accompany him for a few songs. Their voices are beautiful and their harmonies perfect. I am in a blissful daze being with my two best friends (which doesn’t happen often since we all three go to different schools) listening to music I love, all while not spending a penny! According to this cheap-ass, this is perfection. The sun is setting and beaming through the woods. We start making our way out of the park during Connor Obert’s last song. We do this kind of dance-walk type movement until the music is out of earshot. This might be the end of day one, and the best part of it all is knowing I get to do it again for the next two days. Hardly Strictly, I love you.

First City Fest

Sitting on the grass in a crowd of people waiting for Father John Misty to take the stage, jumping for joy while Modest Mouse jammed out in the middle of a song, tripping out on MGMT’s huge LCD screen; all were amazing moments that will forever remind me of one of the best weekends ever. This weekend I had the pleasure of attending First City Music Festival in Monterey, CA. I couldn’t have asked for a better music festival. First City fest was the perfect size. The weather was prime; warm and sunny in the day and cooler at night. There were three stages; one main stage, one medium stage, and a small stage for the less known bands. The crowds were minimal and friendly. I have been to too many music festivals that were way too crowded to get a good spot in the crowd, too many stages with too many scheduling conflicts to see all the bands that you desire to see.

First City was in an excellent location. Monterey is a great town with beautiful scenery and nice people. We stayed at a hotel up the road that was a 5 minute cab ride to the festival. The food was on the expensive side but definitely affordable. I got a hot dog for six dollars which seemed steep to me but when they handed it to me it was the biggest hot dog I have ever seen. Drinks were very expensive, beers seven to ten dollars and mixed drinks ten to twelve dollars. There were artists selling jewelry, paintings, posters and lots of other cool stuff. The whole festival had a vintage carnival theme to it. In addition to the stages there were carnival rides and games throughout the venue. At one point the lead singer of Father John Misty shouted, “If you can’t have fun at this festival there is probably something deeply wrong with you.” I couldn’t agree with him more with the great music, good vibes, and beautiful weather it was impossible to walk around without a smile on your face.

The music was incredible. I got to see so many of my favorite bands and all were beyond impressive. Modest Mouse is a great band with diverse songs with poetic lyrics. Seeing them in such a beautiful venue was simply magical. At many times in the middle of a song they would just start jamming out on all of their instruments and the crowd would feed off of their energy and jam out with them. This really displayed their musical talents and their ability to have fun. I got to see a band called Purity Ring, which was an amazing experience. They had the coolest set I have ever seen, with spectacular lights and light up cocoons hanging that would illuminate every time the singer hit them. Another highlight was seeing a band called Dr. Dog who I am a longtime fan of. They were so much fun. Father John Misty put on a great performance. Going into it I had only heard of one song of theirs but I found myself rocking out nearly the entire time. The lead singer was very funny and a bit strange it was very entertaining. They played their popular song “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” and at the end they jammed out while the lead singer flopped around on the ground then wrapped the microphone cord around his neck. It was bizarre and unforgettable.  Other highlights included MGMT, Passion Pit, Toro Y Moi, Capital Cities, Washed Out, Devandra Banhart and so many more. I am literally counting down the days until First City Festival 2014. One of the best festivals I have ever been to, some next level shit.

Bottle Rock Napa

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending Bottle Rock Music Festival in Napa. This first annual music festival took place at the Napa Expo center, it was a blast. The Line-up was amazing and when I saw it, I knew I had to attend. Check it out here. The festival was spread out from wednesday to Sunday. I was planning on only going Friday but Ended up getting a free ticket to go on Sunday too, which was beyond lucky. I got to see some of my favorite bands. Friday I saw The Alabama Shakes, The Shins, and The Black Keys. All of which were amazing and unforgettable. On Sunday I saw Rogue Wave, Grouplove (GREAT performers), Michael Franti and Spear heard, Train, and Cake. t was so awesome seeing some of my most favorite bands all so close to where I live. All the artists commented on how happy they were to be here and hoe awesome the area is. I couldn't agree more!
The weather was perfect (a little hot at times). There was awesome food, beer, wine, etc. all over priced but I've learned to accept that at music festivals. The crowds were not overwhelming like most music festivals. There was only two main stages, one smaller stage, and one comedy stage. The conflicts in schedule were there but not as bad as other music festivals like Coachella and Outsidelands which have several stages to choose from. I can'y wait til next year, I am so there!

The Black Keys

 The Shins

 

 SO much fun!!

mUsIc

This week been so busy. I am currently in overdrive, finals are in full swing at SSU. That being said this week has been very stereotypical college. All-nighters, study guides, caffeine, complaining, stressing, final essays, exams, let me just say it is NOT FUN. But I realize that it's all part of it, and I can't complain too much because when it's over I have a long and awesome Summer break to look forward to.
Since I didn't do anything worth documenting I will be talking about music.
Last night my roommate and I were sitting in my room and she asked me, "where do you always find all this music?" It come from a combination of places:

1. I have awesome friends who like trill ass music and they share that shit with me.
2. SOUNDCLOUD!! I looove Soundcloud. Soundcloud is a place to upload and share music, I use it listen and discover music then share it with others. Your "stream" on Soundcloud is comparable to a Facebook feed, you see all the songs that the people you follow upload or repost.  I follow my friend Ben who is quite the music blogger (check his shit out bensock) and he shares cool music he hears. When I hear a song I really like, most of the time I'll check out the artist and start following them so their music comes up on my "stream". So I follow some friends with cool music taste, some cool underground producers, some not so underground producers, and I have this constant source of fresh music that is endless. A lot of the time there is a free download option for songs, which is always trill.
3. The Majestic Casual youtube channel. Whoever runs it shares some great music. The CHILLEST music, has my current music preferences to a tea (they change a lot). check it out: Majestic Casual

Music is amazing, I honestly do not know how I could live without it.

Russian River

Each weekend is getting hotter and hotter, I guess it's safe to say its summertime. With it being warm brings a lot more day activities; hiking, basking, day drinking, adventuring. My weekends lately have been filled to the brim with all these awesome activities and the weekend seems to last forever. I love it. Friday I spent in a grassy back yard basking in the sun and playing flip cup with frat bros. Saturday some friends invited me to go to the Russian River with them. I didn't take any pictures because I was too busy enjoying myself and put my phone away the entire time. We went to a beach which I do not know the name of. It was off river road, we parked on the street by Martinelli rd. We had to cross the street and go on a path through the woods for a bit. We crossed the road and hiked through until we saw the perfect little beach and a large amount people hanging out. We brought some speakers, drinks, floaties, footballs, frisbees, it was a great time. We got some sun, swam in the water, hiked around the area, it was a perfect day.


This song was played a lot this weekend. My friends are obsessed with it, and now I find that I am becoming obsessed with it.. It's so catchy and positive, I love it. Might see them this Summer, hope I can!

 This is my new favorite Kendrick song. This guy is talented. I dig.

Doran and Jenner

The weather this weekend was ridiculous. Completely clear blue skies, temperatures in the 80's, a warm breeze, the smell of sunscreen and sweat, it was perfect. I was peeved that I had to wake up at 8 on Friday, one of the only days I get to sleep in, to go to a marine bio field trip to Bodega Bay. Little did I know that I was going to thoroughly enjoy being forced out of my bed and onto the beautiful coast. First we went to Doran Beach which I had never been to before. It was a great beach, definitely a perfect place to sunbathing and dipping the water without the threat of big scary waves.

For my field trip my class and I collected and surveyed sand crabs. I was anticipating it being creepy but I actually had a lot of fun. It was very hands-on and forced us to get in the water a bit which was fun and refreshing. We played in the water while collecting important data for marine biologists in the area.

We played some frisbee, ate lunch, then headed over to Jenner to see some Harbor Seals. The view driving down to Jenner was breathtaking and I made my friend pullover so I could take some pictures. I felt like I was in Cabo.

We observed and documented the adorable seals and even got to watch a mother teach her pup how to swim. Jenner was also very beautiful, another place I need to go back too. It's not ideal for swimming because there's a strong shore break, but great for hanging at the beach and going for a walk. I'm in love with northern California's coast. Go outside. That is all.

This song accompanied me all weekend. I would say I'm obsessed. I love Daft Punk and I'm so excited for their new album coming out next month. This is their first single, and I LOVE it. It features Pharell Williams, who I also love. I'm stoked that Daft Punk is bringing back that funky vibe. I live for that shit.

Get Lucky - Daft Punk

The Postal Service Concert

This weekend I went and saw a band used to be one of my favorites, The Postal Service. I can't say that I listen to them much anymore but I love their music and still managed to remember the lyrics to most of the songs. The band is made up of the talented Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie, producer Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel and Headset, and Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley. The band got their name because they used to make their music. Tamborello would produce it then send it to Gibbard who would edit it and add vocals.

They have a really nice sound. I would say it's a kind of electro indie? I've always been bad at pinpointing what genre different music belongs to. It's mellow with awesome vocals and great lyrics .
The show was a lot of fun. I went with my parents, my best friend, and a few family friends. The music is pretty mellow and most people were just standing still, but our group was dancing, singing, laughing and having a grand ole time.

Their performance was on point, they were great performers. The set up they had on stage was really cool with led lights and bright changing colors and patterns.

I would see them again in a heartbeat!
Here's their most popular song, always a classic.

Muir Beach

This past week I got the opportunity to explore more northern coastline I haven't seen yet. I did the beautiful drive through Mt. Tam and through the woods. Driving over Mt Tam is a beautiful drive. It's at times very windy and heavily wooded.

Muir beach is lovely. I couldn't help but envy all the people who own houses overlooking the beautiful beach. My friend and I hiked up a hill to the left of the beach (looking at the ocean). We walked up pretty far and rested for a while at a big rock and and looked at the beach and it's surrounding area. I'm not one who meditates but if I were to try, this would be the place. It was so peaceful and I found a perfect flat spot to sit on and view the breathtaking view and ponder life while the salty wind turned my nose pink. I definitely want to come back when it's a little warmer and less foggy. Maybe I'll go to watch the sunset, or to meditate or both!

I've been jamming to this song lately. I've always been a fan of bossa nova music, it's something that I always find myself coming back to no matter how my music tastes have changed. This song is perfection with its chill beat and Brazilian jazz vibe.

New Music Discovery

Dope.

Bear//Face - Taste My Sad

Flight Facilities - Claire De Lune

Videos

In my Social Media class we had the requirement to upload videos to youtube. I didn't know what I wanted to record or upload so I decided to rummage though the files of my computer. I found a video that I made in my high school photography class. The assignment was a "photo story" and this is what My best friend Autumn and I came up with.
The song is Hahahaohhoho - Yellow Ostrich. I've been following Yellow Ostrich for years now from when he only had a few songs posted on Band Camp. Last summer I got the opportunity to see him at Outside Lands, and even meet and take a picture with him. He has a great voice and is a great performer.

HWY 1 Music

This song is the epitome of Big Sur, in fact it's even called Big Sur. Mason Jennings has such a great voice and awesome lyrics, his music just makes you feel good. This song will always remind me of cruising up the coast and listening to music. I love this song.

And then there's this song, which is just super chill and perfect for the drive.

Salmon Creek

With Spring break around the corner I am getting very excited to go home. I am from a tiny town in northern San Luis Obispo County called Cambria. Most people know of it because of the Hearst Castle which is a mere 5 miles from where I grew up. To say plainly, I grew up in a beautiful place. Being just south of Big Sur, my friends and I loved driving up the absolutely breathtaking coast and either going to the beach at Sand dollar or hiking on the many hikes Big Sur has to offer. It’s safe to say Big Sur is one of my favorite places in the world (so far!).

 Sand Dollar Beach

 A couple of my best friends and I at one of the many lookouts in Big Sur

Since I’m excited about visiting some old hikes I thought I would write about one of my favorites, Salmon Creek. Salmon Creek is in southern Big Sur and has a quite the epic waterfall that flows heavily during the winter. 

The hike is heavily shaded by trees, the air is crisp and fresh, and the sights are amazing. I'd have to say my favorite times at Salmon creek is when we wear our bathing suits, throw on some old tennis shoes that we don’t mind getting wet/dirty, then follow the creek up as far as we want. We swim when the waters deep enough, bask on warm rocks, and climb around exploring. This type of hike is definitely reserved for summer time when it's warm enough. The water is always cold, but extra exxxtra cold during the winter.

 We even suited up and went in the water this January, it was freezing to say the least.

I can't wait to be cruising up hwy 1 with some of my best friends and good vibes. If you ever get the opportunity to visit Big Sur TAKE IT. You will not regret it.

XXYYXX

Some XXYYXX tunes to listen to. #yourwelcome

XXYYXX Show

This week I did not get the opportunity to go on a hike. Instead I got to attend an XXYYXX show at the DNA lounge in the city. I posted an XXYYXX song the other week, his music is brilliant.

His music is really chill but the vibe at the club was very energetic. It could have been the result of the large amounts of MDMA pumping through the majority of these hipsters veins, but it was probably because of the bass heavy pleasureful music XXYYXX bumps. Everyone was dancing and having a great time, it was a blast. XXYYXX is made up of Marcel Everett who is shockingly only 17 years old!! He is amazingly talented and his music is for a lack of a better word the epitome of chill. His heavy bass experimental sounds come together for relaxing yet groovin music and a great time. If he comes to the area again I am buying tickets no questions asked.

"Everything's a memory, with strings that tie to you."

Songs to Accompany Bodega Head Hike

I dig this song. Been a Black Keys fan for a while now. I went through a month long phase where I listening to this song way too much. I still love it, hope it never gets old.

This song is a classic that I will always love. Telepopmusik produces some chill vibes. I love chillin to this music, its always perfectly calming and inspiring. I'm a sucker for pretty female vocals and these do not disappointing  The lyrics always seem to fit with how I feel. This song is gorgeous.

I had the flu this weekend and it was far from pleasant. Started on Thursday and lasted til Saturday with a rampant fever and sore throat. I woke up on Sunday finally feeling better, and my friend invited me to go on a hike with them. I was more than thrilled to tag along and finally get out of the house. First we had to get some food, and my friend Nick was excited to take us to his favorite little crab Shack. It was called Spud Point Crab Co. and it was delicious. The line was long, but I am always down to wait in line for food because I know that long line = amazing food. I got a crab sandwich that was very tasty. My friend got their famous clam chowder and I tried some, it was possibly the best clam chowder I've had. It was an amazing array of flavors and I think I tasted pesto in there which was a great touch. Definitely going back.

We went on the Bodega Head Nature Trail in Bodega Bay. It was a sunny, beautiful day with some wind but not as much as I expected. It was a nice walk along the the rugged coast.

We walked down the side of a cliff and explored a little beach. The hike down to the beach was a little sketchy and definitely needed to be approached with caution. The little beach was really nice and protected by the wind. We poked around some tide pools and hung out on the beach for a while.

We walked farther up the path and noticed people whale watching. They told us they had been seeing a whale pop up. After 5 minutes of watching we saw the whale come to the surface of the water. It was very exciting to see! 

Music to accompany a drive or hike on the Marin headlands.
This song slaps. Shout out to Ben for the music discovery

A song from another one of my favorite bands. Love love love Little Dragon

Marin Headlands

This week was unusually warm, getting myself to leave the house to go on a hike was not a tough task. My friend who is from the area suggested we check out the Marin Headlands. The whole drive from Rohnert Park was sunny and warm, but as we approached Marin we looked over the bay to find a large cloud of fog rolling in. It was an unfortunate yet beautiful sight.

The air was quickly getting colder, so we spent most of this "hike" in the car, viewing the sights. Whether you hike the Marin headlands or just drive through, it s a pleasant experience. The views were breathtaking even though visibility was not great.

At one point we were barely above the sea of thick white fog.

Amazingly enough, we came across an adorable coyote wandering around close to the road. We slowly stalked him along the road until he ran away.

I definitely want to explore the Marin Headlands some more. Even though weather didn't end up being ideal, I still had a great time listening to some sweet beats, looking at incredible views, and chillin with this nugget on my lap.

MT. TAM

This past week I had the pleasure of hiking mt. Tamalpais for the first time. Being from Rohnert Park it was a little bit of a drive, but well worth it. The drive allowed for great music and and great conversation. We got lost at one point and ended in a rather sketchy residential road that seemed to be in the middle of a forest. We eventually found Panaoramic hwy which had a spectacular 360 view of Marin and even San Francisco. We listened the great tunes while meandering deeper into the forest. This song was definitely played, a favorite of mine at the moment. I can listen to XXYYXX on repeat all day long.



The road continued deeper into the woods until we saw the ranger station and parking lot. Being cheap college kids we drove back down the road a bit and parked to avoid the parking fee.

We were told to check out the ravine hike out of the many hikes mt. Tam has to offer. It was about 6 mile long loop and quite the work out. The loop started with another amazing view of the ocean, and since it was such a clear day, a distant view of the city. 

We continued down deep into the ravine covered in lush woods. The sound of running water was soothing as we trekked down hundreds of stairs. We crossed many man made bridges that were not only aesthetically pleasing, but fun to walk across.

We ran into some people that told us if we kept to the left we would make it to the beach, but that it was a far walk and we wouldn't make it back to the top before sunset if we went. We decided to play it safe and continue on through the ravine. The air was fresh and damp, the area is lush and heavily wooded. The hike had a lot of stairs going up and and down, I recommend it for more intermediate hikers. It was a great day and would do it again in a heart beat.

We cruised home listening to groovy tunes and dreamed of the food that awaited us back home. 
This is a fun song from one of my favorite bands of all time.