Uncle Al Medina. Micron pen (03 and 05), Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, watercolor paint, Sharpie marker, Sharpie acrylic paint pen, Copic marker, Prismacolor marker, Japanese ink and Speedball Super Black acrylic ink on 12" X 16" Strathmore cold press watercolor paper. (Please click to enlarge.)
Back in 2015, Tracy, Makayla and I had the opportunity to drive across country to Fresno, California to visit Tracy's aunt and uncle, Helen and Al, and cousin Bud. This would be our first vacation as a family and we couldn't have picked a better destination.
We agreed to make the trip by car because it reminded us of our childhoods when every vacation was built upon our dads behind a wheel, often consulting a huge road map our moms would hold, unfold and fold back. Nowadays our mobile devices are far more valuable as substitutes.
After a couple of days making it through Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah (the town of Green River is a trip, man. That's a story for another blog post!), Arizona and Nevada, we finally wheeled into California's Central Valley, landing at Bud and his girlfriend Cynthia's place, where they graciously asked us to stay. (And Bud makes one helluva breakfast. You should try it!)
Now I know every place in America has its detractors but we loved Fresno. There were plenty of amenities and we could get around easily. It felt like home, something we were seriously considering at the time, along with Las Vegas. The following day, I, Tracy, Makayla, Cynthia, Bud and Bud's younger daughters Noelle and Joelle all hopped into Bud's ride and spirited off to Santa Cruz to visit the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (home of "The Lost Boys"! Dude, it felt just like walking around in the movie!)