[](http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/jcieplinski/HuunqrkrIDfbbfwlzGJrvmDJnEbpnDefEJanjwvapCtGphFgzercaigtbwwp/p557.jpg.scaled1000.jpg) [](http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/jcieplinski/utdCnDGoDhimkpvuHIBsGzICxxhtazoDjkncqszreDAoCagmbDwGpJdgiloC/p559.jpg.scaled1000.jpg)[See the full gallery on Posterous](http://www.blog.joecieplinski.com/end-of-2010-road-trip-day-one)Driving up the coast to Portland on a much needed winter vacation. Made it as far as Crescent City, CA tonight. (Highly recommend Cazadores…

Last nature stop of the trip was just north of Valencia, in the Angeles forest. Pyramid Lake was officially closed on Christmas, but we snuck down past the gates for a look.[](http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/jcieplinski/lJlKAogf1ArkNk1HA91EnnzPtu4H8aamZkoYlOBpMgDcorqXz1joKvLbvLvA/IMG_0629.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg)…

The timing of our little trip left us in a hotel in Valencia, CA on Christmas Eve. As such, we were left with few Christmas Eve dinner options. Remembering the song, I suggested we go out for Chinese. Thanks to excellent 3G coverage and Yelp, we found Grand Panda in Santa Clarita. [](http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/jcieplinski/tHi505b09yuMbNbrN68QULqSHwLVrSTEbBXbuQ81YeXvQuvruhcFCLWvZX9x/IMG_0627.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg)Sorry for the blurry iPhone pic.…

The Mojave National Preserve is an amazing place. We only had time to explore a small part of the park (Hole in the Wall) but just that little portion was fantastic. I highly recommend this park to anyone who is in Southern California. It’s only a few hours from Los Angeles. From highway 40, it doesn’t look like much, but trust me, once you get inside the park, you immediately understand why it was protected. When you’re traveling 1,400 miles, it’s easy to speed past…

I wish I had a picture of this place, but I didn’t think to snap one. Best chicken burrito I’ve had in ages. Who would have thought? Only 1 review on Yelp so far. Might have to add another one of my own. [http://www.yelp.com/biz/robertos-taco-shop-needles](http://www.yelp.com/biz/robertos-taco-shop-needles)Needles, California is just over the border from Arizona. It’s a strange place that actually made us all feel a little uncomfortable. Google informs me that Sam Kinison died just a few…