Roadtrip Flows — Memories from Oregon (Chapter 1)

Shot on 35 mm film (Kodak Gold and Fuji film), developed and scanned at J&F photo lab inc.

Mt. Shasta hidden by clouds from a rest stop

Personal journal entry from April 2025 —

855 miles from Los Angeles to Eugene. That’s 1,710 miles round trip. Add an extra 124 miles to drive to Burney falls, through Shasta-Trinity National Forrest, then get back on I-5. That’s 1,834 miles in total. Never in my life have I eaten that much road.

North west side of the My. Shasta rest stop

Driving through almost the entire longitude of the country for lil ole me was an act of LOVE on behalf of Gabriela. I am in awe at how open her heart is for me — every time I think I’ve reached the boundary, there’s always more space.

La flor mas bella - la Gabriela

Everyone said we should’ve flew, but what is life about if not experience. Arial views are cool, but there’s something profound about facing Earth’s beauty at eye-level.

Burney falls [shot by Gabriela]

Without driving, we would’ve missed the wonder of Burney falls.

We would’ve missed the acres of cloud-like almond trees in bloom in central CA.

We would’ve missed Mt. Shasta, Mt. Eddy, and the incredible hospitality at the original Black Bear Diner.

With love from the original Black Bear Diner in Shasta [shot by Gabriela]

We would’ve missed the rainbow we saw in our rearview windows that arched through the mountains and rendered us speechless.

We would’ve missed the 32 hours of intimate memories we created in the car. Listening to our favorite albums, sharing our evolving outlooks on life, and taking in the ever-changing landscapes

Co-pilot Jo [shot by Gabriela]

I’m grateful for that 1,834 miles of asphalt and 32 hours in the car.

Through the process of taking in the world around us, we were forced to create our own.

I’m grateful for every song played, skipped, and repeated.

I’m grateful for every thigh grab, song request, and peripheral glance from Gabriela.

I’m grateful for the film that immortalized this experience.

As the kids say “core memory unlocked.”

With all that being said - I hope to never do this drive again.

Two girlie pops and their film cameras