The Last Part of the First Adventure

We were back at the beach where we planned to spend the rest of our time before returning home. The weather was almost constantly beautiful. Every day and every night provided magnificent sunrises and sunsets and long walks in the sand. The days were growing longer, and we enjoyed every moment.

Staying in one place for two week allowed us to make friends with other regulars - especially the three couples we met from Oregon. Hank found a great buy on the bread machine of his dreams. We drove to Santa Barbara to get it. On return, he dazzled our campsite neighbors with the smell of baking bread and babka. We learned that sharing babka (a sweet bread made with vodka, orange peel and raisins) is a nice way to make friends.

Much as we hated to leave, it was time to return home. To my surprise, the trip back took only three days (two nights). This means it only takes three days to get back !!!! if we stay on the highway.

We stopped at a roadside market on the way out of Carpinteria and bought citrus and strawberries to sustain us. I had been told that the route along I-5 was ugly and boring. Not so. We were amazed by the huge stands of almond trees in full snowy bloom that lined both sides of the road. Of course seeing these only reinforced the potential harm of the terrible California drought. Nonetheless, they were beautiful and fragrant and highlighted by beautiful sky.

We drove about 350 miles the first day - following the rainbows that stayed all day (and started our day as well.) Dinner at the Harris Ranch was not as good as we remembered from an earlier visit, but our randomly selected camp ground was a beautiful surprise - lush with soft, dewy green grass - which we were told become the "Golden Hills" later in the season and stays that way most of the year. On arrival, we spotted herds of elk on both sides of us. Very nice.

The next day brought us almost to Oregon, past the heartbreakingly low lakes at Mt. Shasta. We spent a very chilly night at a campsite that appears to be someone's backyard property, grabbed breakfast at a diner, and were home before dinner. What a trip.

Happily - all was well at home. Our cat was thrilled to see us, and and our bed was a comfortable as we remembered.One thing we knew for sure, we were home from this trip, but we want to go again.

So - tomorrow (June 9) we head out again. I am sure that a summer trip will be different from winter travel - longer days on the plus side, the heat that has descended so early this year, on the down. As Hank says, we will see.