fresno. yosemite. groveland. sonora. turlock. donner's pass. lake tahoe. reno. home.

the rest of the trip started on a rough note.

our continental breakfast were mini carrot loafs, i woke up with a head cold, we had to drive through multiple canyons to get to fresno which had me convinced my face was going to explode, i cried, and then got locked in a bathroom stall at the world's grossest gas station.

 fresno.
we finally made it to fresno.
i got to meet awesome people that derek taught and served with on his mission.
it was so cool to visit the mission office and see where he lived [and where all those letters got sent].
i can't say it's quite the tourist destination, but it was cool.  derek was thrilled to be back.

fresno temple. 

[it looks just like nashville.]

the mission office.  where he spent a LOT of time.

the next day we headed to yosemite. 

we didn't get to stay long, i still felt crappy. and because of the fires it was super hazy.

but we're definitely going back here with our kids someday!

after yosemite we drove to groveland.  derek served here as well.  basically he lived in the mountains with no people.  it was crazy craze.

and then the hollands were nice enough to have us over for dinner in sonora.

we spent the night in turlock and head to lake tahoe the next day.

lake tahoe.

dreams really do come true people.

seriously this place was breath-taking.

i made derek promise that he'd bring me back here someday. for a whole week. just lake tahoe.

i got to see derek's old house in reno and went to dinner with some old friends.

we spent the night there and then headed on home.

i was able to realize how absolutely tiny old ipod screens are when watching movies...

and at donner's pass i was sure grateful for my goober. 

(even though i was complaining the whole time about eating it for another meal...and my sinuses at 9000 feet.)

 the drive through nevada was as uneventful as ever.
but #roadtrip2013 with derek was the highlight of my summer.

home sweet home.