As I draw my 15th year as a teacher to a close next week, all I can say is BLAHH! I enjoy being a teacher and introducing my students to new concepts such as being quiet when I ask for it, doing homework when I assign it, and not rubbing their pencils against their desks trying to start Indian style fire pits. However, this has probably been my most trying year as a 2nd grade teacher, and teaching 2nd grade has been my greatest 5 years of my career.
Oh, I've had more trying than this year! In my 3rd year of teaching, I was teaching 5th grade in a portable that had trouble remembering there was an AC unit on the roof, making us all psychotic before Halloween. My 9th year was in a 4th grade room after a stressful 2 weeks of emergency moving to a new apartment and therefore having no prep time in my new classroom at a new school. By November, I was beat and I was used to having Novembers off in a year-round school. By January it was hell and by May I was ready to quit teaching to be an accountant.
Those 2 years were horrific by any means, and certainly make this year look like a 6oz filet mignon!However, even this year was a challenge by 2nd grade standards. In the past, the formula was easy. I told kids to do something, and after repeating my directions 40-50 times, they got it. This year, it took at least 100 times and that was on a good day.
I'd love to blame the lack of attention on solar flares, the plight of the Chargers, Wayne Newton, anything external. However, the problem goes deeper than that. With a few exceptions, the parenting has really declined. Getting my kids' parents to force them do homework at gunpoint is no longer easy. Parents also seem to have a highly exaggerated sense of their children's abilities, thinking that a child in 2nd grade reading at a Kindergarten level will be Mensa next year.
However, all will be once again coming to an end. We are getting ready to stage our annual end-of-year play. It contains a song that always brings a tear to my eye called "Things Change". That is truer this year than any before this because my own daughter is in the play. She is getting bigger all the time as well as smarter and sassier.
After the play, its one more day then it's all over. I say goodbye to another set of kids I will see occasionally in the halls in the next few years, lucky if half of them are left by the time they reach 5th grade. For some legal reason, I have to keep my daughter.
I do have to say that all of my 2nd graders through the years have been the best kids I have taught. During my years of teaching 5th, maybe 1 or 2 were memorable in a good way. 1st grade is a blur, though I keep in touch with one of the kids fairly regularly. 4th grade seems like a twilight zone 2-year period, though the second year wasn't too bad.
Now what? Oh yes, another blur in the year called summer. My first real summer vacay as a teacher came in 2011 when I ended my year early to become an accountant (yeah, that would have involved more schooling, no thank you). From 2003-10, I enjoyed sporadic 3-4 week periods of break in the year-round system ( no more of that!). From 2012-16 we took a plane trip each summer. Florida, Colorado Springs, Rapid City, Tennessee, and Michigan were our respective destinations. This year, however, we decided to sacrifice pressurized air in favor of the open road for a week-long road trip in late June. After that, we have July and a week in August and then it's back to the grind.
As we are starting early to end early, we lose 2 weeks of break. Some feel gipped by that, but I just shrug. At the 2 month mark I'm ready for action...time to rub some pencils together!
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Monday, April 17, 2017
Jedi Grievance Meeting
Ok, it's time to clean out the trash. There comes a time every so often when my head needs to get all the bad ideas cleared out and by golly writing them down is the best I know how to do it. So, here goes.
If anyone has ever seen a Star Wars movie, particularly the evil prequel trilogy that is so full of CGI you have trouble believing Obi Wan is played by a real actor, you might notice the term "Republic credits" being bandied about. Now, your average Star Wars character probably has this currency in some part of their clothing. However, it is noticeable that our mighty and "pure" Jedi have these credits, too.
Jedi? Money? Is it possible that our heroes (if you like the good guys) get paid? Qui Gonn had money to wager for Anakin's freedom and Obi Wan always seemed to have space saloon funds.
My question is, how exactly does the pay thing work? The only way I can see it is through the eyes of a Nevada teacher. Try to imagine a meeting of Jedi, call it a grievance meeting, with the head of payroll led by Master Jedi Jamuel M. Saxon (hey I don't want to get sued here!)
Master Saxon: All right you mother&*%$ing Jedi, this meeting-
Master Note-taker, 2nd degree: Master, this is Star Wars, not Pulp Fiction
Master Saxon: Oh, right. Sorry. All right you weasly Jedi, this meeting is called to order.
Master Yoda: Mmmmmm, get this crap over with we should. Fight separatists we should, mmmmm.
Master Note-taker: Must I write every single mmmm? This transcript will be the length of War & Peace if I do.
Master Saxon: Don't mess with the Yoda. Write everything. Who's up first?
Jedi Fred: I don't know, who's up first?
Master Saxon: You f#$%in with me?
Master Notetaker: Master-
Master Saxon: Sorry, I forgot. Get on with it, Fred
Jedi Fred: That's my issue. All of us regular Jedi never get called by our title, just our first names. We're no longer padawans.
Master Yoda: A bug up your ass you have,mmmmm.
Master Saxon: You have a motion, JEDI Fred?
Jedi Fred: Yes, I move that us working stiffs get called Jedi before our official names.
Master Saxon: Noted. Do we have a second for that motion?
Jedi Sylvester: I second.
Master Saxon (waving his hand): You don't need to second, you're fine with how things are.
Jedi Sylvester: I don't need to second, I'm fine with how things are!
Jedi Fred: Hey! I saw that hand-waving bit!
Master Saxon: What? I was swatting a fly, mother fu-oops, strike that. Fine, from now on, all Jedi will be called Jedi before their names.
Master Yoda: Boring this is, mmmm.
Master Saxon: Anything else before we get to the matter of pay? No? Good. The working stiff Jedi union rep is complaining about the pay scale. He's been complaining for 14 parsecs.
Master Note-taker: Master, a parsec is a unit of distance.
Master Saxon: Yeah and he was griping for that distance on a shuttle flight! There were no Master-class seats left so I had to sit with him in coach.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: I have legitimate issues!
Master Saxon: No longer! Master Yoda and I drafted a new contract.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: Really? I can't wait to just sign it without getting all working stiffs' input and approval.
Master Saxon: Let me describe it anyway. This contract maps out the pay and requirements for pay raises according to Jedi development. The current pay for Master Jedi will be raised from 400 to 500 credits per month, as provided by Republic graft and bribery and Trade Federation heists. Working stiff Jedi will receive 300 credits instead of 200 per month. Your pay is guaranteed by fixed pod races on Tatooine.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: How can we bring that up?
Master Saxon: You follow our script well. Working stiff pay can be brought up within 2 years by participating in any of the following: lectures in broken English by Yoda, assisting in missions led by Master Jedi but not receiving the glory, being duel dummies for the younglings, trying to outdrink Master Kenobi twice a day for a month, and listening to Jedi Skywalker whine. Actually, I'll double the credit on that one because I don't want to listen to him anymore.
Jedi Fred: In addition to this so-called raise, do we get a cost-of-living increase as well?
Master Yoda: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, barrel of laughs you are!
Jedi Fred: I don't think so. On the last two missions, I had to run like a wuss because I couldn't afford new power cells for my 12-inch saber.
Master Jedi Butthead: Yeah, he said 12-inch saber!
Master Jedi Beavis: Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh!
Jedi Fred: Yeah, you laugh when it goes limp....oh forget it! Speaking of which, how did these 2 become masters?
Master Saxon: Palpatine seems to like them, so you know, whatever he says goes.
Jedi Fred: So what about the cost-of-living?
Master Saxon: Comes out of your tunic.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: Ready to sign!
Jedi Fred: Don't we get a say in this?
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: You just said something. 'Nuff said (signs document)
Master Yoda: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, adjourned this meeting is.
Jedi Fred: Now wait a minute!
Master Saxon: You read the Jedi manual, JEDI Fred?
Jedi Fred: Not regularly.
Master Saxon: There's a quote I have memorized from the Qui Gonn section: "The path of the Jedi is surrounded by the evil of the Sith. Strong with the Force is the one who in the name of the Light Side kicks the Dark Side's ass for he is truly the boss. And I will strike upon any with my lightsaber those who attempt to poison and destroy the Jedi Order. And you know my name is Qui Gonn when I lay my vengeance-er, Force upon you!"
Jedi Fred: You going to quote from Snakes on a Plane now?
I truly feel better now. I can't come up with a "Basement Generation" post every time, after all!
If anyone has ever seen a Star Wars movie, particularly the evil prequel trilogy that is so full of CGI you have trouble believing Obi Wan is played by a real actor, you might notice the term "Republic credits" being bandied about. Now, your average Star Wars character probably has this currency in some part of their clothing. However, it is noticeable that our mighty and "pure" Jedi have these credits, too.
Jedi? Money? Is it possible that our heroes (if you like the good guys) get paid? Qui Gonn had money to wager for Anakin's freedom and Obi Wan always seemed to have space saloon funds.
My question is, how exactly does the pay thing work? The only way I can see it is through the eyes of a Nevada teacher. Try to imagine a meeting of Jedi, call it a grievance meeting, with the head of payroll led by Master Jedi Jamuel M. Saxon (hey I don't want to get sued here!)
Master Saxon: All right you mother&*%$ing Jedi, this meeting-
Master Note-taker, 2nd degree: Master, this is Star Wars, not Pulp Fiction
Master Saxon: Oh, right. Sorry. All right you weasly Jedi, this meeting is called to order.
Master Yoda: Mmmmmm, get this crap over with we should. Fight separatists we should, mmmmm.
Master Note-taker: Must I write every single mmmm? This transcript will be the length of War & Peace if I do.
Master Saxon: Don't mess with the Yoda. Write everything. Who's up first?
Jedi Fred: I don't know, who's up first?
Master Saxon: You f#$%in with me?
Master Notetaker: Master-
Master Saxon: Sorry, I forgot. Get on with it, Fred
Jedi Fred: That's my issue. All of us regular Jedi never get called by our title, just our first names. We're no longer padawans.
Master Yoda: A bug up your ass you have,mmmmm.
Master Saxon: You have a motion, JEDI Fred?
Jedi Fred: Yes, I move that us working stiffs get called Jedi before our official names.
Master Saxon: Noted. Do we have a second for that motion?
Jedi Sylvester: I second.
Master Saxon (waving his hand): You don't need to second, you're fine with how things are.
Jedi Sylvester: I don't need to second, I'm fine with how things are!
Jedi Fred: Hey! I saw that hand-waving bit!
Master Saxon: What? I was swatting a fly, mother fu-oops, strike that. Fine, from now on, all Jedi will be called Jedi before their names.
Master Yoda: Boring this is, mmmm.
Master Saxon: Anything else before we get to the matter of pay? No? Good. The working stiff Jedi union rep is complaining about the pay scale. He's been complaining for 14 parsecs.
Master Note-taker: Master, a parsec is a unit of distance.
Master Saxon: Yeah and he was griping for that distance on a shuttle flight! There were no Master-class seats left so I had to sit with him in coach.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: I have legitimate issues!
Master Saxon: No longer! Master Yoda and I drafted a new contract.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: Really? I can't wait to just sign it without getting all working stiffs' input and approval.
Master Saxon: Let me describe it anyway. This contract maps out the pay and requirements for pay raises according to Jedi development. The current pay for Master Jedi will be raised from 400 to 500 credits per month, as provided by Republic graft and bribery and Trade Federation heists. Working stiff Jedi will receive 300 credits instead of 200 per month. Your pay is guaranteed by fixed pod races on Tatooine.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: How can we bring that up?
Master Saxon: You follow our script well. Working stiff pay can be brought up within 2 years by participating in any of the following: lectures in broken English by Yoda, assisting in missions led by Master Jedi but not receiving the glory, being duel dummies for the younglings, trying to outdrink Master Kenobi twice a day for a month, and listening to Jedi Skywalker whine. Actually, I'll double the credit on that one because I don't want to listen to him anymore.
Jedi Fred: In addition to this so-called raise, do we get a cost-of-living increase as well?
Master Yoda: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, barrel of laughs you are!
Jedi Fred: I don't think so. On the last two missions, I had to run like a wuss because I couldn't afford new power cells for my 12-inch saber.
Master Jedi Butthead: Yeah, he said 12-inch saber!
Master Jedi Beavis: Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh!
Jedi Fred: Yeah, you laugh when it goes limp....oh forget it! Speaking of which, how did these 2 become masters?
Master Saxon: Palpatine seems to like them, so you know, whatever he says goes.
Jedi Fred: So what about the cost-of-living?
Master Saxon: Comes out of your tunic.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: Ready to sign!
Jedi Fred: Don't we get a say in this?
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: You just said something. 'Nuff said (signs document)
Master Yoda: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, adjourned this meeting is.
Jedi Fred: Now wait a minute!
Master Saxon: You read the Jedi manual, JEDI Fred?
Jedi Fred: Not regularly.
Master Saxon: There's a quote I have memorized from the Qui Gonn section: "The path of the Jedi is surrounded by the evil of the Sith. Strong with the Force is the one who in the name of the Light Side kicks the Dark Side's ass for he is truly the boss. And I will strike upon any with my lightsaber those who attempt to poison and destroy the Jedi Order. And you know my name is Qui Gonn when I lay my vengeance-er, Force upon you!"
Jedi Fred: You going to quote from Snakes on a Plane now?
I truly feel better now. I can't come up with a "Basement Generation" post every time, after all!
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Ely
There comes a time for everyone when, if on vacation, cabin fever sets in. Spring Break always sounds really great, and the first few days are mostly delightful and restful bliss. Soon after, you look around to see the family, furniture, even neighbors have grown vampire fangs the length of a Slim Jim jerky-wannabe. That's when it is time for a getaway.
For us, the getaway was Ely, a pleasant Old West town just 300 miles from home and 60 miles from the Utah state line. The drive itself is quite pleasant although long. After leaving town on I-15 north in late morning, we took U.S. 93 north, but first grabbed a little needed Subway grub since we'd neglected breakfast (common for us on vacay). 93 goes through miles of desert valley surrounded by various mountain ranges. After a while we crossed into Lincoln County. One thing people should know about Nevada counties is that they are HUGE! As the state is so sparsely populated, there is no need for much regional government. 93 is in Lincoln County for 172 miles.
After 38 of those miles, we stopped in Alamo for, you guessed it, a rental car! No, just a bathroom break. After Alamo and later on Ash Springs, there is a decision making point: the long way or short way to Ely, a difference of 45 miles. We chose the long way, meaning we stayed on 93, which veered east for over 40 miles before heading north through Caliente (bathroom and snack stop), Panaca, and Pioche. There is a warning in Pioche: LAST SERVICES FOR 113 MILES! They aren't kidding. While there is now more greenery among the mountain peaks and valleys, there is a definite shortage of people...and traffic. We were lucky to have the road to ourselves for the most part. The one bit of excitement was the crossing into White Pine County. 26 miles later, we hit a cool place. Well, it's cool for a road nerd like myself, anyone else is saying, "ARE WE THERE YET?!" This cool place is where 93 meets the duplex of U.S. 6 and U.S. 50, making a highway triplex for the last 26 miles to Ely. I love these shared roads because eventually they split for their own destinations.
Ely is the place for that split. The first to abandon the trio is 6, which heads southwest toward Tonopah and eventually ending in Bishop, California. 50 and 93 share another mile before splitting. 93 heads north to cross I 80 in Wells and continue to Idaho, Montana, and the Canadian border. I want to explore 93 further one day north of Twin Falls, Idaho.
We'd made reservations at the White Pine Motel. This means that we made sure we had a place to sleep in a pleasant yet aging motel. Nothing special, but not bad, either. Dinner was at the Silver State Restaurant across the street. Once again, not great but not bad, they just need to season the food more. After that it was time to retire for the evening. A nice end to the night was occasional snow flurries. Ely can get this all year!
The next morning, we got up (no kidding), dressed, packed, and headed back to the restaurant for breakfast. They did slightly better at this. Afterward, we went to our reason for the trip: the Railroad Museum. This place is quite a marvel, a wonderful blend of railroad nerd artifacts and history nerd artifacts. The engine house is the jewel of the place, and anyone who is not impressed by the engine collection just has no soul. The smell of oily maintenance just adds to the charm...as well as lung gunk buildup.
We had a special treat there. When we paid for our admission, we were asked if we wanted to be on the train to act as extras in a movie. With nothing else to do, we agreed and boarded the train. The seats were a bit cramped, but it was fun sitting there. After a little while of nothing, the crew started to get things going, and we figured out that the movie was a Bollywood production. The train got hooked up to the engine and we began heading west for 7 miles. The track runs pretty much along 50 into the canyons west of Ely. After a point near a bridge, the train went back to Ely. All along the way, we were listening to the same scene in Hindi being shot over and over again. Some of the actors were amused at the repetitiveness of it all. As for me, the thrill of a train ride and going through 2 tunnels made my day!
After getting back to the station, a lot of nothing happened so we got off. We could have reboarded as they were doing another run, but I was tired of the entertainment biz by then and wanted to see more of the museum. The extras had been promised lunch, but we weren't in the mood for Indian food. We checked everything in the museum out, bought some baubles, and left.
Hungry, we went to the Jailhouse Café downtown. Nothing fancy. You walked up, ordered, paid, and waited for food and drink. Quite the amateur effort. After the lackluster lunch, we drove on U.S. 50 along where the train had run for 6 miles.
Let me diverge a bit here for U.S. 50. It was once a transcontinental highway, running from Ocean Beach, Maryland to San Francisco. As the Interstate system grew, the new routes and pavement negated the need for the old roads and their route numbers. 50 suffered a few casualties, the biggest one in California where it was cut back to end in West Sacramento. It also had a big route change in Utah after I 70 was completed. Instead of following 6 from Green River to Ely, it followed 70 to Salina, where it traversed north to Scipio, then west to meet 6 near Delta. 50 was also duplexed with other Interstate highways in other states and was, occasionally, poorly signed.
U.S. 50 in Nevada is a treasure I want to explore one day. It is nicknamed "The Loneliest Road in America" in this state and rightly so. Interstate 80 made life a whole lot easier for traffic, particularly trucks, when it was completed in the 1980s, making 50 a deserted piece of pavement from Carson City to Ely. A tourism-boosting group devised a challenge for travelers to drive across Nevada on 50, with a book to be stamped in each town. There aren't many. After Carson City there is Fallon, Austin, Eureka, and finally Ely. I don't count the potion of 50 between Lake Tahoe and Carson City as it is heavily traveled and is a divided highway.
As I wipe a wistful tear away, let's return to our trip. Returning to Ely, we refueled (interesting to note that gas stations in Ely use the 85 octane as their "regular" fuel as the area is of higher elevation), then headed to U.S. 6 west...I never go back the exact same way unless necessary. 6 ascends a summit, then heads into a desert valley. It continues this pattern of summits and valleys all the way to California, and could be considered the true loneliest road west of Lund Junction. At Lund Junction, we headed south on Nevada Route 318. This is the short route to Ely. It is more of a straight shot and goes through White Pine, Nye, and Lincoln Counties. It passes through pleasant Lund, then 90 miles later Hiko, along with beautiful mountain scenery and a few passes before rejoining with 93 just north of Ash Springs. After that it was backtracking home.
I love 2 day jaunts like this! Truly the highlight of Spring Break!
For us, the getaway was Ely, a pleasant Old West town just 300 miles from home and 60 miles from the Utah state line. The drive itself is quite pleasant although long. After leaving town on I-15 north in late morning, we took U.S. 93 north, but first grabbed a little needed Subway grub since we'd neglected breakfast (common for us on vacay). 93 goes through miles of desert valley surrounded by various mountain ranges. After a while we crossed into Lincoln County. One thing people should know about Nevada counties is that they are HUGE! As the state is so sparsely populated, there is no need for much regional government. 93 is in Lincoln County for 172 miles.
After 38 of those miles, we stopped in Alamo for, you guessed it, a rental car! No, just a bathroom break. After Alamo and later on Ash Springs, there is a decision making point: the long way or short way to Ely, a difference of 45 miles. We chose the long way, meaning we stayed on 93, which veered east for over 40 miles before heading north through Caliente (bathroom and snack stop), Panaca, and Pioche. There is a warning in Pioche: LAST SERVICES FOR 113 MILES! They aren't kidding. While there is now more greenery among the mountain peaks and valleys, there is a definite shortage of people...and traffic. We were lucky to have the road to ourselves for the most part. The one bit of excitement was the crossing into White Pine County. 26 miles later, we hit a cool place. Well, it's cool for a road nerd like myself, anyone else is saying, "ARE WE THERE YET?!" This cool place is where 93 meets the duplex of U.S. 6 and U.S. 50, making a highway triplex for the last 26 miles to Ely. I love these shared roads because eventually they split for their own destinations.
Ely is the place for that split. The first to abandon the trio is 6, which heads southwest toward Tonopah and eventually ending in Bishop, California. 50 and 93 share another mile before splitting. 93 heads north to cross I 80 in Wells and continue to Idaho, Montana, and the Canadian border. I want to explore 93 further one day north of Twin Falls, Idaho.
We'd made reservations at the White Pine Motel. This means that we made sure we had a place to sleep in a pleasant yet aging motel. Nothing special, but not bad, either. Dinner was at the Silver State Restaurant across the street. Once again, not great but not bad, they just need to season the food more. After that it was time to retire for the evening. A nice end to the night was occasional snow flurries. Ely can get this all year!
The next morning, we got up (no kidding), dressed, packed, and headed back to the restaurant for breakfast. They did slightly better at this. Afterward, we went to our reason for the trip: the Railroad Museum. This place is quite a marvel, a wonderful blend of railroad nerd artifacts and history nerd artifacts. The engine house is the jewel of the place, and anyone who is not impressed by the engine collection just has no soul. The smell of oily maintenance just adds to the charm...as well as lung gunk buildup.
We had a special treat there. When we paid for our admission, we were asked if we wanted to be on the train to act as extras in a movie. With nothing else to do, we agreed and boarded the train. The seats were a bit cramped, but it was fun sitting there. After a little while of nothing, the crew started to get things going, and we figured out that the movie was a Bollywood production. The train got hooked up to the engine and we began heading west for 7 miles. The track runs pretty much along 50 into the canyons west of Ely. After a point near a bridge, the train went back to Ely. All along the way, we were listening to the same scene in Hindi being shot over and over again. Some of the actors were amused at the repetitiveness of it all. As for me, the thrill of a train ride and going through 2 tunnels made my day!
After getting back to the station, a lot of nothing happened so we got off. We could have reboarded as they were doing another run, but I was tired of the entertainment biz by then and wanted to see more of the museum. The extras had been promised lunch, but we weren't in the mood for Indian food. We checked everything in the museum out, bought some baubles, and left.
Hungry, we went to the Jailhouse Café downtown. Nothing fancy. You walked up, ordered, paid, and waited for food and drink. Quite the amateur effort. After the lackluster lunch, we drove on U.S. 50 along where the train had run for 6 miles.
Let me diverge a bit here for U.S. 50. It was once a transcontinental highway, running from Ocean Beach, Maryland to San Francisco. As the Interstate system grew, the new routes and pavement negated the need for the old roads and their route numbers. 50 suffered a few casualties, the biggest one in California where it was cut back to end in West Sacramento. It also had a big route change in Utah after I 70 was completed. Instead of following 6 from Green River to Ely, it followed 70 to Salina, where it traversed north to Scipio, then west to meet 6 near Delta. 50 was also duplexed with other Interstate highways in other states and was, occasionally, poorly signed.
U.S. 50 in Nevada is a treasure I want to explore one day. It is nicknamed "The Loneliest Road in America" in this state and rightly so. Interstate 80 made life a whole lot easier for traffic, particularly trucks, when it was completed in the 1980s, making 50 a deserted piece of pavement from Carson City to Ely. A tourism-boosting group devised a challenge for travelers to drive across Nevada on 50, with a book to be stamped in each town. There aren't many. After Carson City there is Fallon, Austin, Eureka, and finally Ely. I don't count the potion of 50 between Lake Tahoe and Carson City as it is heavily traveled and is a divided highway.
As I wipe a wistful tear away, let's return to our trip. Returning to Ely, we refueled (interesting to note that gas stations in Ely use the 85 octane as their "regular" fuel as the area is of higher elevation), then headed to U.S. 6 west...I never go back the exact same way unless necessary. 6 ascends a summit, then heads into a desert valley. It continues this pattern of summits and valleys all the way to California, and could be considered the true loneliest road west of Lund Junction. At Lund Junction, we headed south on Nevada Route 318. This is the short route to Ely. It is more of a straight shot and goes through White Pine, Nye, and Lincoln Counties. It passes through pleasant Lund, then 90 miles later Hiko, along with beautiful mountain scenery and a few passes before rejoining with 93 just north of Ash Springs. After that it was backtracking home.
I love 2 day jaunts like this! Truly the highlight of Spring Break!
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Relationships
This is a piece I have wanted to tackle for a while, and did not quite know how to go about it. No, I'm not doing a pathetic why oh why am I where I am now and how did I get here. It's just a look back because it's a sunny Sunday in March, quite pleasant, and it gets the creative juices flowing.
I have been in 1 relationship for 11 years and a month and 7 days now. This was the woman I knew from the first day that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, the vibes were that instant. It took quite a long time to find Vickie, an arduous journey of heartache, headaches and despair, and that was just the morning before our first date started!
No, seriously, the relationship cycle was a rollercoaster for years. I've met a lot of women, some of whom I've spent a good deal of time with, some whom I saw once and never saw again, to a varying degree of relief and sadness. In fact, I don't think I could write this without 11 years of happy marriage under my belt so I can fully look at the past objectively and with fondness, not angst, animosity, or regret. I regret nothing, it was all meant to be....or not to be.
To begin, I should make it clear that I was basically a virginal geek for quite a long time, even through college. It was a mixture of awkwardness and self-doubt that kept me out of the sexual and relationship arena for the years it would have been fun. The way I look at it is this: given the right opportunity HANDED TO ME ON A SILVER PLATTER, I would have been stupid enough to mess it up and/or gotten a venereal disease due to no condom because I would have been THAT GRATEFUL to get laid. Like I say, things happen for a reason. So let me go all the way back to childhood, say, third grade.
Yes, I was liking girls a lot early on, but my geekiness made me a laughing stock or just a general creep....I did a lot of staring in admiration and wonderment.
Lisa A- In third and fourth grade I thought her to be the prettiest girl in class. She thought me to be a creepy nerd. Luckily we grew to be friendlier acquaintances in junior high and high school.
Karen W-I liked her in 5th grade and never stopped liking her in junior high. I just had nothing going for me in those years. Hardly saw her in high school, but it's a big place.
Donna M- Cute girl in 6th grade, stayed cute all through graduation, just too sophisticated or pseudo sophisticated for the likes of me.
Robyn S- I thought she was the hottest number in 8th grade. Sitting next to her in science was the highlight of my day that year.
Mary P.- Quite a beautiful Greek-blooded girl. She was my 9th grade focus.
Tracey G.- Actually Tracey and I were just friends, but we talked regularly on the phone for a while. It was nice to talk to a female who didn't get me tongue-tied. I needed that.
Amy E.-Almost right from the start of 11th grade, I was smitten with this blonde beauty. I was not quite sure why then. This was the girl that had me being an idiot just to get her attention, and damn was I pathetic. I wrote her notes, sent her carnations with the message "Love Ya", and it pretty much embarrassed her, and me, as the end result. Ah, awkward youth. I was interested in her for the rest of high school but to no avail.
Julie Cinnamon- This was a girl I liked in my 1 year at West Virginia. Alas, she had a guy who was in the military. I will say it was nice to have a new focus other than Amy.
After West Virginia, I went through a dry spell in regards to girls to like. A full 2 years and 4 months to be exact. One of those years was spent with lousy temp jobs in San Diego, another was in junior college. Well, there was a girl named Darcy, but she was about 6 years older. I found myself being stupid again like I was with Amy...I was a guy who needed to get laid before my mind went bonkers.
Kimberly C.- I met her at Sonoma State's summer orientation. She was really fun and perky and I liked being around her. Unfortunately, I had 2 things going against me. First, when I got the guts to ask her out, my parents were on the verge of splitsville. Second, she had another guy she liked and was getting some from. Still, we had some nice times for a couple of years. My temper almost cost me my friendship with her a couple of times. The trouble with parents divorcing at that point in life is that it put me into a total sense of confusion and loss. And by temper I don't mean physical, just words. Luckily, we have grown and are still friends.
Sarah Sc.- Another college interest. Pretty and gaunt and smart. Other than that, she seemed to have a strange home life and we only got together a couple of times. I tried to get something going after graduation, but she got a job so nothing.
Sarah Su.- This Sarah has the distinction of being the first girl I met online. She was a very pretty Chinese girl who lived in Sacramento. I went over there a few times to see her. Once we just did lunch and movie, the next time was a day in San Francisco. We did a few other things, and were pretty passionate with each other. We never did the deed, but got close a couple of times. Timing was not right and I was probably a bit anxious.
Jodie D.- Another online connection. We actually had 2 separate periods. One was brief in the summer of 2000 and we fooled around a bit. The other was was just slightly longer in late 2001-early 2002. It was during this last period that I got my cherry popped at last...AT 29!! I think she figured that out without asking, and was frustrated I was awkward about that part. Oh well, an obstacle had been overcome and I no longer felt pressure within myself.
Treasa S- My first real regular woman friend after moving to Las Vegas, met online. She was taller than me but it did not matter to her. We had a lot of fun going to movies, eating together, and fooling around. I felt quite blessed to be with her, although she was not really with me exclusively. That bothered me a bit, but I did enjoy my times with her. Like Jodie, we had 2 periods: spring-summer of 2003 and spring-summer 2004. We are still friends to this day.
Gigi P.- I actually met Gigi through another online connection. Gigi was older, divorced, and with a child. After a slow start, we enjoyed a 4 month relationship of sex and companionship. However, we bickered a lot over commitment issues (I wasn't close to ready) and she was quite jealous of any other females in my life, Treasa in particular. There was no place for that relationship to grow.
Dorothy- There came a time when a lot of failed first and second dates were taking their toll on me. Summer of 2004 was that time. Losing Gigi and then Treasa for a second time did not help. I found Dorothy from Texas online in late summer and we developed a daily phone routine. I really wanted to meet her and invited her for a visit. When that time came in late October, I was at wit's end over relationships and work. I not only paid for a plane ticket, but I invited her to live with me. Never having met her before, I actually asked her this! She came, we had sex a few times, and were trying to be domestic. However, she was 9 years younger and had her own huge problems, not the least of which was coming down form a speed addiction. After a week, the dam burst and we both knew it was not working. I drove her back to Texas during track break and came home a lonely guy. This guy was in need of serious psychotherapy and I proceeded immediately.
Thea R.- After a few weeks of therapy, I was starting to feel better and ready for the dating world. Maybe a bit premature, but I had, in my own mind, unmanned myself with Dorothy and needed to get something back. Along came Thea in December of 2004. It was almost too perfect. We met online and then a bar the next night. After a few drinks we came to my place and had the best sex I'd had to that point. Shortly after, she hooked up with someone else, but after a few months it was over and we got together a few times in spring 2005. We are still good friends and I credit her with restoring my manhood during a difficult time.
Jacqueline C-My first experience with a psycho. Quite the mood jumps. A wiccan, and as I later discovered, still married to her 2nd hubby! This lasted a little over a month before I escaped.
After my last time with Thea, I had a few dates with others, but by fall of 2005 I was tired of the scene. Part of it was my fault, I expected too much from people, not in terms of relationships but rather honesty. I quit for 3 months.
During that time I developed a nice friendship with a woman named Robin. No stress, just meals and movies. I also hung with 2 sisters with major mental hangups. Overall, the celibacy was wearing thin pretty quick, so I got back into the game during the Christmas holidays. Robin and I might have gotten serious if we'd wanted to, but her plate was pretty full and the most we shared was a kiss on New Year's Eve.
In January 2006, I spent some time with Melanie in Bullhead City, but that commute would get old fast. She was also too down on herself. I was also with Vanessa K. Sex with her was fun but she was another temperamental firecracker like Jacqueline, and was much more obsessed with her own orgasms via whole fist. Quite the lesson in elasticity.
On February 11 2006, after a week of phone talks, I met Vickie. Seriously, the rest is history. We married 9 months later and had a baby girl in summer of 2009. It is not perfect, we have our pasts and disagreements, but we talk and work things out and above all, we love each other with all our hearts!
The end!
I have been in 1 relationship for 11 years and a month and 7 days now. This was the woman I knew from the first day that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, the vibes were that instant. It took quite a long time to find Vickie, an arduous journey of heartache, headaches and despair, and that was just the morning before our first date started!
No, seriously, the relationship cycle was a rollercoaster for years. I've met a lot of women, some of whom I've spent a good deal of time with, some whom I saw once and never saw again, to a varying degree of relief and sadness. In fact, I don't think I could write this without 11 years of happy marriage under my belt so I can fully look at the past objectively and with fondness, not angst, animosity, or regret. I regret nothing, it was all meant to be....or not to be.
To begin, I should make it clear that I was basically a virginal geek for quite a long time, even through college. It was a mixture of awkwardness and self-doubt that kept me out of the sexual and relationship arena for the years it would have been fun. The way I look at it is this: given the right opportunity HANDED TO ME ON A SILVER PLATTER, I would have been stupid enough to mess it up and/or gotten a venereal disease due to no condom because I would have been THAT GRATEFUL to get laid. Like I say, things happen for a reason. So let me go all the way back to childhood, say, third grade.
Yes, I was liking girls a lot early on, but my geekiness made me a laughing stock or just a general creep....I did a lot of staring in admiration and wonderment.
Lisa A- In third and fourth grade I thought her to be the prettiest girl in class. She thought me to be a creepy nerd. Luckily we grew to be friendlier acquaintances in junior high and high school.
Karen W-I liked her in 5th grade and never stopped liking her in junior high. I just had nothing going for me in those years. Hardly saw her in high school, but it's a big place.
Donna M- Cute girl in 6th grade, stayed cute all through graduation, just too sophisticated or pseudo sophisticated for the likes of me.
Robyn S- I thought she was the hottest number in 8th grade. Sitting next to her in science was the highlight of my day that year.
Mary P.- Quite a beautiful Greek-blooded girl. She was my 9th grade focus.
Tracey G.- Actually Tracey and I were just friends, but we talked regularly on the phone for a while. It was nice to talk to a female who didn't get me tongue-tied. I needed that.
Amy E.-Almost right from the start of 11th grade, I was smitten with this blonde beauty. I was not quite sure why then. This was the girl that had me being an idiot just to get her attention, and damn was I pathetic. I wrote her notes, sent her carnations with the message "Love Ya", and it pretty much embarrassed her, and me, as the end result. Ah, awkward youth. I was interested in her for the rest of high school but to no avail.
Julie Cinnamon- This was a girl I liked in my 1 year at West Virginia. Alas, she had a guy who was in the military. I will say it was nice to have a new focus other than Amy.
After West Virginia, I went through a dry spell in regards to girls to like. A full 2 years and 4 months to be exact. One of those years was spent with lousy temp jobs in San Diego, another was in junior college. Well, there was a girl named Darcy, but she was about 6 years older. I found myself being stupid again like I was with Amy...I was a guy who needed to get laid before my mind went bonkers.
Kimberly C.- I met her at Sonoma State's summer orientation. She was really fun and perky and I liked being around her. Unfortunately, I had 2 things going against me. First, when I got the guts to ask her out, my parents were on the verge of splitsville. Second, she had another guy she liked and was getting some from. Still, we had some nice times for a couple of years. My temper almost cost me my friendship with her a couple of times. The trouble with parents divorcing at that point in life is that it put me into a total sense of confusion and loss. And by temper I don't mean physical, just words. Luckily, we have grown and are still friends.
Sarah Sc.- Another college interest. Pretty and gaunt and smart. Other than that, she seemed to have a strange home life and we only got together a couple of times. I tried to get something going after graduation, but she got a job so nothing.
Sarah Su.- This Sarah has the distinction of being the first girl I met online. She was a very pretty Chinese girl who lived in Sacramento. I went over there a few times to see her. Once we just did lunch and movie, the next time was a day in San Francisco. We did a few other things, and were pretty passionate with each other. We never did the deed, but got close a couple of times. Timing was not right and I was probably a bit anxious.
Jodie D.- Another online connection. We actually had 2 separate periods. One was brief in the summer of 2000 and we fooled around a bit. The other was was just slightly longer in late 2001-early 2002. It was during this last period that I got my cherry popped at last...AT 29!! I think she figured that out without asking, and was frustrated I was awkward about that part. Oh well, an obstacle had been overcome and I no longer felt pressure within myself.
Treasa S- My first real regular woman friend after moving to Las Vegas, met online. She was taller than me but it did not matter to her. We had a lot of fun going to movies, eating together, and fooling around. I felt quite blessed to be with her, although she was not really with me exclusively. That bothered me a bit, but I did enjoy my times with her. Like Jodie, we had 2 periods: spring-summer of 2003 and spring-summer 2004. We are still friends to this day.
Gigi P.- I actually met Gigi through another online connection. Gigi was older, divorced, and with a child. After a slow start, we enjoyed a 4 month relationship of sex and companionship. However, we bickered a lot over commitment issues (I wasn't close to ready) and she was quite jealous of any other females in my life, Treasa in particular. There was no place for that relationship to grow.
Dorothy- There came a time when a lot of failed first and second dates were taking their toll on me. Summer of 2004 was that time. Losing Gigi and then Treasa for a second time did not help. I found Dorothy from Texas online in late summer and we developed a daily phone routine. I really wanted to meet her and invited her for a visit. When that time came in late October, I was at wit's end over relationships and work. I not only paid for a plane ticket, but I invited her to live with me. Never having met her before, I actually asked her this! She came, we had sex a few times, and were trying to be domestic. However, she was 9 years younger and had her own huge problems, not the least of which was coming down form a speed addiction. After a week, the dam burst and we both knew it was not working. I drove her back to Texas during track break and came home a lonely guy. This guy was in need of serious psychotherapy and I proceeded immediately.
Thea R.- After a few weeks of therapy, I was starting to feel better and ready for the dating world. Maybe a bit premature, but I had, in my own mind, unmanned myself with Dorothy and needed to get something back. Along came Thea in December of 2004. It was almost too perfect. We met online and then a bar the next night. After a few drinks we came to my place and had the best sex I'd had to that point. Shortly after, she hooked up with someone else, but after a few months it was over and we got together a few times in spring 2005. We are still good friends and I credit her with restoring my manhood during a difficult time.
Jacqueline C-My first experience with a psycho. Quite the mood jumps. A wiccan, and as I later discovered, still married to her 2nd hubby! This lasted a little over a month before I escaped.
After my last time with Thea, I had a few dates with others, but by fall of 2005 I was tired of the scene. Part of it was my fault, I expected too much from people, not in terms of relationships but rather honesty. I quit for 3 months.
During that time I developed a nice friendship with a woman named Robin. No stress, just meals and movies. I also hung with 2 sisters with major mental hangups. Overall, the celibacy was wearing thin pretty quick, so I got back into the game during the Christmas holidays. Robin and I might have gotten serious if we'd wanted to, but her plate was pretty full and the most we shared was a kiss on New Year's Eve.
In January 2006, I spent some time with Melanie in Bullhead City, but that commute would get old fast. She was also too down on herself. I was also with Vanessa K. Sex with her was fun but she was another temperamental firecracker like Jacqueline, and was much more obsessed with her own orgasms via whole fist. Quite the lesson in elasticity.
On February 11 2006, after a week of phone talks, I met Vickie. Seriously, the rest is history. We married 9 months later and had a baby girl in summer of 2009. It is not perfect, we have our pasts and disagreements, but we talk and work things out and above all, we love each other with all our hearts!
The end!
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Solo 4 and 5 and 6
Nice to have something to write on again, happy to say! Having no computer was tough for a bit.
OK, that's out of the way, on to business.
Previously, I've written about some solo road trips I've taken in California. I've decided to mix the last 3 memorable trips into one post so I can unclog my brain on other issues. I say last 2 because a year after the last one, I met the woman who would become my wife and make road trips even more great!
Solo road trip 4: Santa Rosa to Las Vegas
After a quite stressful year of applying and interviewing for teaching jobs, one such trip involving a car wreck, I'd finally wrangled a teaching position in Las Vegas,Nevada. This meant a major uprooting from comfy, beautiful Sonoma County to the bleak desert. It also meant leaving a pretty easy street situation of no rent payments that had been going on for 4 years. It had to end sometime. I was also leaving my best buddy Scott after 8 years of dorm and apartment living. Yes, the common law marriage was coming to an amicable divorce. It was about time, he needed to get a woman in his life!
On August 2,2002, my dad and I set out in a 2-vehicle caravan to Las Vegas. It counts as a solo because we were in different autos.We headed out at 2am onto U.S. 101, a dark and typically overcast night. Making our way to San Rafael, we got onto 580 and tore (literally) through the east Bay burbs of Richmond, Oakland, and San Leandro. There was almost no traffic and certainly no typical bay backups. 580 soon cut east into the Castro Valley towns of Pleasanton and Livermore, 2 towns I was never excited about. Before long, 580 was out of the Bay Area, heading through Altamont Pass and into the San Joaquin Valley. 580 soon ended at I 5 just south of Tracy and 5 continued the dreary travel through nondescript brown landscape, occasionally within view of farmland for a couple hundred miles through Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno, and King Counties. Coming into Kern County, we got off on CA 46 to cut across to CA 99. 46 was just a nice quick 20 mile cut with no frills and thankfully no lights.
Soon we got onto 99 south. 99 was once the main Valley drag that hit all the major towns, and later I-5 was the high-speed yet desolate bypass. After about 25 miles, we were in Bakersfield, where I had gone for an interview previously. We got on to CA 58 (former U.S, 466) and were soon crossing the lower Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was still only about 8 in the morning. After the Sierras, we were in the Mojave Desert. 58 cut through the small town of Mojave (coincidence?) and proceeded due east for a 70 mile trek to Barstow, passing to the north of Edwards Air Force Base and crossing U.S. 395 on the way. The cool thing was, there were mileage signs on 58 for Las Vegas, only 200 miles away!
In Barstow, 58 ended at I 15. where we took the northbound ramp toward Vegas. After Barstow, 15 cuts through the barren burg of Yermo and then 48 miles of bleak desert toward Baker, where we got a quick snack, After Baker, 15 climbs quite steeply for 16 miles to a crest, dips into the Cima Valley, then climbs again through a pass, then descends once more down a lengthy hill. This hill is notable because the stateline town of Primm,Nevada is constantly in view with its 3 casinos and an outlet mall. Once in Nevada, 15 is bombarded with billboards advertising all sorts of Las Vegas attrractions.
After 27 miles more of desert, 15 finally reaches the Vegas Valley. As it was a Friday, there was some traffic buildup at noon, but I was to learn that this was normal any day in Vegas. Passing by the Vegas Strip hotels to the left, we crossed U.S. 95 and picked up U.S. 93 as we headed into North Las Vegas. One thing I have noticed about Las Vegas is that, like other metro areas, it is quite ugly in the daytime, but sparkles at night.
At exit 46, we got off at Cheyenne Ave and headed east to Nellis Blvd, right next to the Air Force base. My apartment was pretty much right there. After almost an hour of filling out forms in a cool office, we spent a couple of hours unloading the vehicles and setting up my sparse furniture of a bed, chair, and a few glass tables. After that, we found a Tony Roma's on the Strip at the now-defunct Stardust Hotel/Casino and enjoyed some ribs and beer. Well needed!
The next day, my dad headed home quite early and left me some money to buy some items. I found a place to get breakfast, hit Wal Mart, and just spent the rest of the day getting organized and getting to know the town.
Over the course of the next several years, I'd do many drives to and from San Diego. Those are not really notable, pretty much I 15 the whole way. Once in a while I'd hit old 66 between Victorville and Barstow, but that was bleak 2-lane desert road with many bumps.
Solo road trip #5: Las Vegas to Enumclaw
I'd flown a couple of times to see my sister and her kids, but one year I decided to drive it. In March 2004 during track break (3 of those replaced summer vacation) I decided to take an unusual route. I headed up 15 out of the Vegas Valley. Once out, the desert is still there. U.S. 93, having been part of 15 for 22 miles, departs toward Ely and 15 heads toward Moapa and then hits a long straightaway before descending into Mesquite.
After Mesquite, 15 crosses into Arizona and is bleak desert for 9 miles before entering what is probably one of the most beautiful engineering marvels on an Interstate: the Virgin River Gorge. Before 15 was built through there, one had to take U.S. 91 on a 45-mile curvy route to St. George, Utah. That route is still drivable and is occasionally preferred as the Gorge is often under repair and narrowed to 1 lane, quite treacherous and slow when big rigs are present.
However, when the Gorge is driven, it is a beautiful canyon drive for 18 miles before exiting and then hitting Utah. Gorgeous red rocks and tight curves make it almost hypnotic, but one must keep an eye on the road here.
Upon entering Utah, 15 is quickly going into St. George, a good place for breakfast at Shoney's. I like St. George. It is a desert town, but it is so full of red rock and a view of tall ridges to the east that one knows they have entered a different landscape. After St. George, 15 winds north and upward , experiencing up to 20-degree drops in temperature before entering Cedar City, only 50 miles from St. George. After Cedar City, 15 rolls through occasional farmland and is almost always in view of some high peaks in either direction. Utah is cool like that.
After 110 miles in Utah I pass though Beaver, a tiny burg worthy of many cheap jokes just because of the name. 20 miles later, 15 gives access to the western end of I-70, which travels all the way to the Baltimore area. 15 continues into Millard County in a series of high climbs, steep descents, and long valleys, crossing U.S.. 50 along the way. Juab County is a bit flatter, passing through pretty Nephi. Soon after Nephi, 15 enters Utah County and a 100+mile string of towns, the heart of which are Provo and Salt Lake City.. I've always loved this area!
After the Salt Lake area, 15 goes through Ogden and Brigham City, then enters the first bleak area for the first time in 2 hours. Well, not completely bleak, there were still ridges about. I got onto I 84 west, which cut through more bleak Utah before hitting bleak southern Idaho. In fact, I 84 showed me that southern Idaho is pretty much nothing for miles around. After a junction with short I 86, 84 hits a few small towns like Burley and Jerome, passes to the north of Twin Falls, then wends emptily toward Boise, where I spent the night.
The next morning, I got a better view of Boise, which looked pretty nice with a mountainous background. After Boise, 84 cut through a few smaller towns in the Snake River Valley, then passed into eastern Oregon. Now, I've driven through Oregon many times and have seen its beauteous greenery. Eastern Oregon is quite the opposite, with its long highway stretches of nothingness, though there are some exceptions, and the ridge and subsequent downgrade toward Pendleton make 84 a worthwhile travel. Shortly after Pendleton came Hermiston, and I got onto I 82.
82 is not what I'd call interesting, though it was nice to see other parts of Washington. It passes by Kennewick, though Prosser, and later Yakima before heading over a pass to end at I 90 near Ellensburg.
Once I hit 90, I was almost immediately climbing the Cascades. The highway is quite beautiful through there and is always worthwhile except in snowy winter periods. After hitting Snoqualmie Pass, 90 descends toward the Seattle burbs. I got onto 18 south toward WA 169, getting pulled over for speeding. I explained that I was on the final stretch of a long drive and was forgiven (no ticket). After getting on to 169 and through beautiful Washington farms and greenery, I was soon in Enumclaw and ready to relax.
Coming back was pretty much the same as I took the same route.
Solo trip 6: Santa Rosa to Enumclaw
Actually, my 6th and last major solo trip of note began as a trip to San Diego. After a few days with my mom and soon-to-be-stepdad, I headed up 5 and 101 to Santa Rosa to hang with Scott and his lady Darlene for a few days before heading to Washington. This time, I was determined to take a nice leisurely drive.
I headed up 101 through the beautiful Sonoma County farmland and vineyards before getting into forested, hilly, and curvy Mendocino County. I'd been through Mendocino County many times and never got tired of it. That county is one of California's best. I could do without Ukiah, but Hopland and Willits are nice little hamlets. Heading north, , two-lane 101 passes small Laytonville and Leggett and Piercey before entering Humboldt County where 101 is mostly freeway again. After passing through many curvy forested valleys, 101 hits the Eureka area. One thing I've always loved about Eureka is its constantly cooler temperatures. There is also a KFC buffet there...probably not good for my body now but back then the never-ending chicken, mashed, and cole slaw were enough to satisfy a traveler's belly. North of Eureka, 101 passes through Arcata where CSU Humboldt is. After that, the highway is windy forest with occasional ocean views, pretty cool stuff.
Soon 101 is in Del Norte County, home of cool Crescent City and Pelican Bay Prison. North of that, 101 gives access to U.S. 199 to Grants Pass, while 101 itself cuts through the rest of woodsy Del Norte into Oregon, hitting oceanfront Brookings quickly. After Brookings, 101, winds through windy forests and ocean views pretty much all the way up the Oregon coast, a lovely 300+ miles. Coos Bay is especially nice! However, I did not get so lucky.
My original plan was to stay in Florence for the night, but as there was widespread construction on 101, I had to cut east on OR 126 to Eugene, cut up to Corvallis, then take U.S. 20 to Newport. By then it was dark and I was hungry, so I stayed in Newport for the night. In the morning I grabbed the continental breakfast and continued up the coast through Lincoln City, Tillamook, and finally Astoria where I was to get a big treat. I had always wanted to cross the big bridge into Washngton on 101 and this was my chance. After a high rise, the bridge flattens to give a view of the Pacific all the way into Washington. I got onto WA 4, crossing miles of wooded valleys into Longview, where I had lunch with someone I'd met on a dating site. After that, I headed to 5 and aimed for Enumclaw.
After a few days with my sister's fam and a day with my high school pal Derek in Everett, I headed up U.S. 2 into the windy Cascades through Stevens Pass, where I caught U.S. 97 to Ellensburg where I took 82 back to 84 back to Idaho. I stayed in Twin Falls for the night, then took U.S.93 back to Vegas. 93 is long, brown, and doesn't hit much besides Jackpot at the state line, a more scenic version of Primm. It also crosses I-80 at Wells and Ely a couple hours later. After that, 93 hits a few pretty area, but mainly it is bleak desert all the way home.
Unfortunately, that was the last of my solo road trips. Not long after that, I was with Vickie and about to enjoy new adventures on the road with her as my co-pilot. I couldn't have asked for a better future!
OK, that's out of the way, on to business.
Previously, I've written about some solo road trips I've taken in California. I've decided to mix the last 3 memorable trips into one post so I can unclog my brain on other issues. I say last 2 because a year after the last one, I met the woman who would become my wife and make road trips even more great!
Solo road trip 4: Santa Rosa to Las Vegas
After a quite stressful year of applying and interviewing for teaching jobs, one such trip involving a car wreck, I'd finally wrangled a teaching position in Las Vegas,Nevada. This meant a major uprooting from comfy, beautiful Sonoma County to the bleak desert. It also meant leaving a pretty easy street situation of no rent payments that had been going on for 4 years. It had to end sometime. I was also leaving my best buddy Scott after 8 years of dorm and apartment living. Yes, the common law marriage was coming to an amicable divorce. It was about time, he needed to get a woman in his life!
On August 2,2002, my dad and I set out in a 2-vehicle caravan to Las Vegas. It counts as a solo because we were in different autos.We headed out at 2am onto U.S. 101, a dark and typically overcast night. Making our way to San Rafael, we got onto 580 and tore (literally) through the east Bay burbs of Richmond, Oakland, and San Leandro. There was almost no traffic and certainly no typical bay backups. 580 soon cut east into the Castro Valley towns of Pleasanton and Livermore, 2 towns I was never excited about. Before long, 580 was out of the Bay Area, heading through Altamont Pass and into the San Joaquin Valley. 580 soon ended at I 5 just south of Tracy and 5 continued the dreary travel through nondescript brown landscape, occasionally within view of farmland for a couple hundred miles through Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno, and King Counties. Coming into Kern County, we got off on CA 46 to cut across to CA 99. 46 was just a nice quick 20 mile cut with no frills and thankfully no lights.
Soon we got onto 99 south. 99 was once the main Valley drag that hit all the major towns, and later I-5 was the high-speed yet desolate bypass. After about 25 miles, we were in Bakersfield, where I had gone for an interview previously. We got on to CA 58 (former U.S, 466) and were soon crossing the lower Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was still only about 8 in the morning. After the Sierras, we were in the Mojave Desert. 58 cut through the small town of Mojave (coincidence?) and proceeded due east for a 70 mile trek to Barstow, passing to the north of Edwards Air Force Base and crossing U.S. 395 on the way. The cool thing was, there were mileage signs on 58 for Las Vegas, only 200 miles away!
In Barstow, 58 ended at I 15. where we took the northbound ramp toward Vegas. After Barstow, 15 cuts through the barren burg of Yermo and then 48 miles of bleak desert toward Baker, where we got a quick snack, After Baker, 15 climbs quite steeply for 16 miles to a crest, dips into the Cima Valley, then climbs again through a pass, then descends once more down a lengthy hill. This hill is notable because the stateline town of Primm,Nevada is constantly in view with its 3 casinos and an outlet mall. Once in Nevada, 15 is bombarded with billboards advertising all sorts of Las Vegas attrractions.
After 27 miles more of desert, 15 finally reaches the Vegas Valley. As it was a Friday, there was some traffic buildup at noon, but I was to learn that this was normal any day in Vegas. Passing by the Vegas Strip hotels to the left, we crossed U.S. 95 and picked up U.S. 93 as we headed into North Las Vegas. One thing I have noticed about Las Vegas is that, like other metro areas, it is quite ugly in the daytime, but sparkles at night.
At exit 46, we got off at Cheyenne Ave and headed east to Nellis Blvd, right next to the Air Force base. My apartment was pretty much right there. After almost an hour of filling out forms in a cool office, we spent a couple of hours unloading the vehicles and setting up my sparse furniture of a bed, chair, and a few glass tables. After that, we found a Tony Roma's on the Strip at the now-defunct Stardust Hotel/Casino and enjoyed some ribs and beer. Well needed!
The next day, my dad headed home quite early and left me some money to buy some items. I found a place to get breakfast, hit Wal Mart, and just spent the rest of the day getting organized and getting to know the town.
Over the course of the next several years, I'd do many drives to and from San Diego. Those are not really notable, pretty much I 15 the whole way. Once in a while I'd hit old 66 between Victorville and Barstow, but that was bleak 2-lane desert road with many bumps.
Solo road trip #5: Las Vegas to Enumclaw
I'd flown a couple of times to see my sister and her kids, but one year I decided to drive it. In March 2004 during track break (3 of those replaced summer vacation) I decided to take an unusual route. I headed up 15 out of the Vegas Valley. Once out, the desert is still there. U.S. 93, having been part of 15 for 22 miles, departs toward Ely and 15 heads toward Moapa and then hits a long straightaway before descending into Mesquite.
After Mesquite, 15 crosses into Arizona and is bleak desert for 9 miles before entering what is probably one of the most beautiful engineering marvels on an Interstate: the Virgin River Gorge. Before 15 was built through there, one had to take U.S. 91 on a 45-mile curvy route to St. George, Utah. That route is still drivable and is occasionally preferred as the Gorge is often under repair and narrowed to 1 lane, quite treacherous and slow when big rigs are present.
However, when the Gorge is driven, it is a beautiful canyon drive for 18 miles before exiting and then hitting Utah. Gorgeous red rocks and tight curves make it almost hypnotic, but one must keep an eye on the road here.
Upon entering Utah, 15 is quickly going into St. George, a good place for breakfast at Shoney's. I like St. George. It is a desert town, but it is so full of red rock and a view of tall ridges to the east that one knows they have entered a different landscape. After St. George, 15 winds north and upward , experiencing up to 20-degree drops in temperature before entering Cedar City, only 50 miles from St. George. After Cedar City, 15 rolls through occasional farmland and is almost always in view of some high peaks in either direction. Utah is cool like that.
After 110 miles in Utah I pass though Beaver, a tiny burg worthy of many cheap jokes just because of the name. 20 miles later, 15 gives access to the western end of I-70, which travels all the way to the Baltimore area. 15 continues into Millard County in a series of high climbs, steep descents, and long valleys, crossing U.S.. 50 along the way. Juab County is a bit flatter, passing through pretty Nephi. Soon after Nephi, 15 enters Utah County and a 100+mile string of towns, the heart of which are Provo and Salt Lake City.. I've always loved this area!
After the Salt Lake area, 15 goes through Ogden and Brigham City, then enters the first bleak area for the first time in 2 hours. Well, not completely bleak, there were still ridges about. I got onto I 84 west, which cut through more bleak Utah before hitting bleak southern Idaho. In fact, I 84 showed me that southern Idaho is pretty much nothing for miles around. After a junction with short I 86, 84 hits a few small towns like Burley and Jerome, passes to the north of Twin Falls, then wends emptily toward Boise, where I spent the night.
The next morning, I got a better view of Boise, which looked pretty nice with a mountainous background. After Boise, 84 cut through a few smaller towns in the Snake River Valley, then passed into eastern Oregon. Now, I've driven through Oregon many times and have seen its beauteous greenery. Eastern Oregon is quite the opposite, with its long highway stretches of nothingness, though there are some exceptions, and the ridge and subsequent downgrade toward Pendleton make 84 a worthwhile travel. Shortly after Pendleton came Hermiston, and I got onto I 82.
82 is not what I'd call interesting, though it was nice to see other parts of Washington. It passes by Kennewick, though Prosser, and later Yakima before heading over a pass to end at I 90 near Ellensburg.
Once I hit 90, I was almost immediately climbing the Cascades. The highway is quite beautiful through there and is always worthwhile except in snowy winter periods. After hitting Snoqualmie Pass, 90 descends toward the Seattle burbs. I got onto 18 south toward WA 169, getting pulled over for speeding. I explained that I was on the final stretch of a long drive and was forgiven (no ticket). After getting on to 169 and through beautiful Washington farms and greenery, I was soon in Enumclaw and ready to relax.
Coming back was pretty much the same as I took the same route.
Solo trip 6: Santa Rosa to Enumclaw
Actually, my 6th and last major solo trip of note began as a trip to San Diego. After a few days with my mom and soon-to-be-stepdad, I headed up 5 and 101 to Santa Rosa to hang with Scott and his lady Darlene for a few days before heading to Washington. This time, I was determined to take a nice leisurely drive.
I headed up 101 through the beautiful Sonoma County farmland and vineyards before getting into forested, hilly, and curvy Mendocino County. I'd been through Mendocino County many times and never got tired of it. That county is one of California's best. I could do without Ukiah, but Hopland and Willits are nice little hamlets. Heading north, , two-lane 101 passes small Laytonville and Leggett and Piercey before entering Humboldt County where 101 is mostly freeway again. After passing through many curvy forested valleys, 101 hits the Eureka area. One thing I've always loved about Eureka is its constantly cooler temperatures. There is also a KFC buffet there...probably not good for my body now but back then the never-ending chicken, mashed, and cole slaw were enough to satisfy a traveler's belly. North of Eureka, 101 passes through Arcata where CSU Humboldt is. After that, the highway is windy forest with occasional ocean views, pretty cool stuff.
Soon 101 is in Del Norte County, home of cool Crescent City and Pelican Bay Prison. North of that, 101 gives access to U.S. 199 to Grants Pass, while 101 itself cuts through the rest of woodsy Del Norte into Oregon, hitting oceanfront Brookings quickly. After Brookings, 101, winds through windy forests and ocean views pretty much all the way up the Oregon coast, a lovely 300+ miles. Coos Bay is especially nice! However, I did not get so lucky.
My original plan was to stay in Florence for the night, but as there was widespread construction on 101, I had to cut east on OR 126 to Eugene, cut up to Corvallis, then take U.S. 20 to Newport. By then it was dark and I was hungry, so I stayed in Newport for the night. In the morning I grabbed the continental breakfast and continued up the coast through Lincoln City, Tillamook, and finally Astoria where I was to get a big treat. I had always wanted to cross the big bridge into Washngton on 101 and this was my chance. After a high rise, the bridge flattens to give a view of the Pacific all the way into Washington. I got onto WA 4, crossing miles of wooded valleys into Longview, where I had lunch with someone I'd met on a dating site. After that, I headed to 5 and aimed for Enumclaw.
After a few days with my sister's fam and a day with my high school pal Derek in Everett, I headed up U.S. 2 into the windy Cascades through Stevens Pass, where I caught U.S. 97 to Ellensburg where I took 82 back to 84 back to Idaho. I stayed in Twin Falls for the night, then took U.S.93 back to Vegas. 93 is long, brown, and doesn't hit much besides Jackpot at the state line, a more scenic version of Primm. It also crosses I-80 at Wells and Ely a couple hours later. After that, 93 hits a few pretty area, but mainly it is bleak desert all the way home.
Unfortunately, that was the last of my solo road trips. Not long after that, I was with Vickie and about to enjoy new adventures on the road with her as my co-pilot. I couldn't have asked for a better future!
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Big Solo 3!
Recently I have written about my first 2 solo road trips, which were quite long in mileage and time. The first few were from San Diego to Sonoma County or vice versa. Not much changed in that time span. My buddy Scott and I took several road trips together in that time as well, but my next big solo excursion happened in September of 1997. As it was round trip, I had a lot of mileage to cover.
To set it up, my sister and her family moved back to the Seattle area in summer 1995. I had gone with my mom and my dad separately via plane to visit them a few times. In early September 1997, my dad gave me his old 1986 Volvo with 120K miles on it. Having spent a fairly dormant summer lazing around after getting my bachelor's degree, I decided a big road trip to make the Volvo truly mine (for better or worse) was necessary. I'd done the San Diego trip enough, so Seattle seemed the right thing to do. Not only was my sister and her family there, my childhood friend Derek Coller was there as well. I wasn't particularly close to my sister or her husband, but her 2 sons were dear to my heart and she'd also recently given birth to a little girl and I wanted to see her.
The night before the trip, I stayed the night at Scott's parents' house in Fairfield so as to get right on the freeway early in the morning. At about 5:30 am, I got onto I 80 east, cutting through beautiful northern California hills into Vacaville just a few miles later. It was impossible to eat breakfast yet, I had to make 100 miles at least before submitting to food and drink, an old family tradition my wife has since made me end!
In Vacaville, I turned on to I 505, a 33-mile rural freeway with no frills, just flat agriculture and dirt on the western edge of the Sacramento Valley. Near Dunnigan, it merges with I 5. I was excited because this was all new territory for me to cover. 5 continued in the Sacramento Valley through Yolo County into Colusa County, where in Williams it intersects California 20, which goes west to Clear Lake and east into Gold Country and the Sierras...one of California's nicer state highways. 5 continues into Glenn County, staying rural and interecting with connections to Chico and other valley towns. In Tehama County, 5 crosses through Red Bluff, the first real town since Vacaville. As I'd gone 140 miles, it was time for breakfast, and a Denny's right off an exit ramp seemed perfect.
Getting back onto 5 afterward, the freeway began to gradually climb for 30 miles. By the time I passed through Redding in Shasta County, I was clearly in mountain country. 5 was now passing through beautiful hills and forested areas, not to mention a few tight curves here and there. It was definitely better than the flat farmland I'd been tortured with earlier. Passing beautiful Shasta Lake and Dunsmuir, I entered Siskiyou County and passed through Weed, a town I suspected was aptly named by a relaxed population. Weed is also where U.S. route 97 begins, cutting into Oregon then Washington. It is notable that gorgeous looming Mt. Shasta was almost always in view.
Soon after, I passed through Yreka, pondering the weirdness of such a town name, though the surrounding land makes it a nice village. 5 then begins a very steep climb toward Siskiyou Summit. Before the climb was done, I was in Oregon. The descent was steep yet beautiful and before long I was in Ashland, home of a popular Shakespeare festival. Down the road is Medford, another nice southern Oregon town. 5 then curves west along the Rogue River Valley for several miles. The surrounding hills make this stretch pretty fun to drive along.
Before long, 5 curves north to the east side of Grant's Pass. Scott and I had traveled here a year before, staying in a really hot motel room due to bad AC one night. Continuing north, 5 weaves in and out of steep hills and curves for many miles. In Roseburg, there was an interesting anomaly. U.S. 99 had been decommissioned more than 20 years ago in Oregon, but there was an exit sign remaining with the U.S. shield. I was lucky to get a photo of it, a risky move while driving, but I was lucky to get it, as my next trip through there saw the Oregon state highway symbol for 99 replacing it.
5 continued through hilly and curvy country for over 50 more miles before hitting the outskirts of Eugene and Springfield. 5 stays clear of both, but I have been in Eugene and it is one of the prettiest small towns I've been in! North of Eugene, 5 enters the Willamette Valley, Oregon's version of California's long-ass San Joaquin/Sacramento Valleys. Luckily, this valley was not so long, and after gassing up in Salem, continued into the Portland area. I remember asking the gas attendant (you can't fill your own car in Oregon) if there was a bridge toll across the Columbia and he smiled and said only crazy California does that...actually a lot of east coast bridges have tolls as well.
Portland, Oregon is a really gorgeous area filled with trees and mountains on either side. 5 is fairly congested here, but it is not forever and before I knew it I was crossing the Interstate Bridge into Vancouver, Washington, a small but fairly industrial river town. From there, 5 follows the Columbia river for about 30 miles , then goes through Longview and Kelso and leaves the river. 5 then crosses several small creeks and wooded areas for over 50 miles, passing through Centralia, Toledo, and Vader (I laughed here), before hitting the capital of Olympia, where one of my favorite roads, U.S. 101, meets its demise.
After Olympia, 5 cuts northeast toward Puget Sound and enters Pierce County before coming into Tacoma, a very congested area at rush hour! Before long, I entered King County, the home of Seattle. I got off 5 onto WA 516 and drove into Kent. Soon I was at my sister's house ready to stretch my legs!
After a few days of visiting with 3 year old Ian and 1 year old Shawn and baby Megan, as well as Derek and his wife Vickie, I headed back toward Santa Rosa.
I definitely wanted to try a different route home to keep life fresh. I followed I 5 back down to Kelso where I got off the freeway. As it was 110 miles from Kent, I was legally able to eat breakfast. I chose Shari's, a Denny's-like diner with a counter...my kind of place!
After a heartburn-creating meal, I went down WA 433 through a quite industrial-looking area still in the dark of early hours. It was also drizzling or flat out showering. Soon I crossed a high but simple bridge over the Columbia River and right on the other side was U.S. 30. I got onto 30 west toward Astoria. 30 cut through a rainy forest for 50 miles. I'm sure it was gorgeous on a sunny day. I remembered 30 as the main freeway through Lancaster in Pennsylvania when growing up. In Astoria, 30 met its demise at U.S. 101, which had come off a very nice bridge over the Columbia just east of the mighty Pacific Ocean.
Now on 101 south, I saw a lot of beautiful coastline mixed with forested areas. I soon passed through Tillamook, and then Lincoln City and Newport down the road. After many miles of rainy forest, I drove through Florence, and before long I was in lovely Coo's Bay. All along the way, I was afforded wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean, although in many areas it was fogged over.
From Coo's Bay onward, the weather cleared up quite a bit. Bandon, Fort Orford, and Gold's Beach were much more pleasant to drive through. After beautiful Brookings, 101 entered California and got quite woodsy. After a junction with U.S. 199 (toward Grant's Pass) I went through Crescent City, home of nasty prison Pelican Bay. Afterward, 101 was quite curvy and woodsy, but pretty due to no more rain. At dinner time I finally got into Eureka and decided to spend the night there at a Holiday Inn Express.
The next morning, I mildly cheated and had the continental breakfast at the hotel, then got back on 101. Just south of Fortuna, I got onto the Avenue of the Redwoods, a winding road which was actually old 101 and much prettier than the freeway. The road finally ended at 101 just before entering Mendocino County. In Leggett, there was a nice tourist attraction with a drive-through tree. Recent rains have destroyed this, I am sad to say.
After Legett, 101 winds through beautiful forests and hills, passing through small Laytonville and eventually going through lovely Willits. After Willits, 101 winds down to Ukiah where it is briefly a freeway. It slims down again through Hopland before entering Sonoma County and becoming a full freeway just before Cloverdale. Passing through Geyserville, Healdsburg, and Windsor, 101 hit my old home of Santa Rosa just in time for lunch.
Overall, this was one of my best road trips. I had a great combo of classic rock and audio books to entertain me and occasionally keep me awake. I'd love to do it again with my family one day.
To set it up, my sister and her family moved back to the Seattle area in summer 1995. I had gone with my mom and my dad separately via plane to visit them a few times. In early September 1997, my dad gave me his old 1986 Volvo with 120K miles on it. Having spent a fairly dormant summer lazing around after getting my bachelor's degree, I decided a big road trip to make the Volvo truly mine (for better or worse) was necessary. I'd done the San Diego trip enough, so Seattle seemed the right thing to do. Not only was my sister and her family there, my childhood friend Derek Coller was there as well. I wasn't particularly close to my sister or her husband, but her 2 sons were dear to my heart and she'd also recently given birth to a little girl and I wanted to see her.
The night before the trip, I stayed the night at Scott's parents' house in Fairfield so as to get right on the freeway early in the morning. At about 5:30 am, I got onto I 80 east, cutting through beautiful northern California hills into Vacaville just a few miles later. It was impossible to eat breakfast yet, I had to make 100 miles at least before submitting to food and drink, an old family tradition my wife has since made me end!
In Vacaville, I turned on to I 505, a 33-mile rural freeway with no frills, just flat agriculture and dirt on the western edge of the Sacramento Valley. Near Dunnigan, it merges with I 5. I was excited because this was all new territory for me to cover. 5 continued in the Sacramento Valley through Yolo County into Colusa County, where in Williams it intersects California 20, which goes west to Clear Lake and east into Gold Country and the Sierras...one of California's nicer state highways. 5 continues into Glenn County, staying rural and interecting with connections to Chico and other valley towns. In Tehama County, 5 crosses through Red Bluff, the first real town since Vacaville. As I'd gone 140 miles, it was time for breakfast, and a Denny's right off an exit ramp seemed perfect.
Getting back onto 5 afterward, the freeway began to gradually climb for 30 miles. By the time I passed through Redding in Shasta County, I was clearly in mountain country. 5 was now passing through beautiful hills and forested areas, not to mention a few tight curves here and there. It was definitely better than the flat farmland I'd been tortured with earlier. Passing beautiful Shasta Lake and Dunsmuir, I entered Siskiyou County and passed through Weed, a town I suspected was aptly named by a relaxed population. Weed is also where U.S. route 97 begins, cutting into Oregon then Washington. It is notable that gorgeous looming Mt. Shasta was almost always in view.
Soon after, I passed through Yreka, pondering the weirdness of such a town name, though the surrounding land makes it a nice village. 5 then begins a very steep climb toward Siskiyou Summit. Before the climb was done, I was in Oregon. The descent was steep yet beautiful and before long I was in Ashland, home of a popular Shakespeare festival. Down the road is Medford, another nice southern Oregon town. 5 then curves west along the Rogue River Valley for several miles. The surrounding hills make this stretch pretty fun to drive along.
Before long, 5 curves north to the east side of Grant's Pass. Scott and I had traveled here a year before, staying in a really hot motel room due to bad AC one night. Continuing north, 5 weaves in and out of steep hills and curves for many miles. In Roseburg, there was an interesting anomaly. U.S. 99 had been decommissioned more than 20 years ago in Oregon, but there was an exit sign remaining with the U.S. shield. I was lucky to get a photo of it, a risky move while driving, but I was lucky to get it, as my next trip through there saw the Oregon state highway symbol for 99 replacing it.
5 continued through hilly and curvy country for over 50 more miles before hitting the outskirts of Eugene and Springfield. 5 stays clear of both, but I have been in Eugene and it is one of the prettiest small towns I've been in! North of Eugene, 5 enters the Willamette Valley, Oregon's version of California's long-ass San Joaquin/Sacramento Valleys. Luckily, this valley was not so long, and after gassing up in Salem, continued into the Portland area. I remember asking the gas attendant (you can't fill your own car in Oregon) if there was a bridge toll across the Columbia and he smiled and said only crazy California does that...actually a lot of east coast bridges have tolls as well.
Portland, Oregon is a really gorgeous area filled with trees and mountains on either side. 5 is fairly congested here, but it is not forever and before I knew it I was crossing the Interstate Bridge into Vancouver, Washington, a small but fairly industrial river town. From there, 5 follows the Columbia river for about 30 miles , then goes through Longview and Kelso and leaves the river. 5 then crosses several small creeks and wooded areas for over 50 miles, passing through Centralia, Toledo, and Vader (I laughed here), before hitting the capital of Olympia, where one of my favorite roads, U.S. 101, meets its demise.
After Olympia, 5 cuts northeast toward Puget Sound and enters Pierce County before coming into Tacoma, a very congested area at rush hour! Before long, I entered King County, the home of Seattle. I got off 5 onto WA 516 and drove into Kent. Soon I was at my sister's house ready to stretch my legs!
After a few days of visiting with 3 year old Ian and 1 year old Shawn and baby Megan, as well as Derek and his wife Vickie, I headed back toward Santa Rosa.
I definitely wanted to try a different route home to keep life fresh. I followed I 5 back down to Kelso where I got off the freeway. As it was 110 miles from Kent, I was legally able to eat breakfast. I chose Shari's, a Denny's-like diner with a counter...my kind of place!
From Coo's Bay onward, the weather cleared up quite a bit. Bandon, Fort Orford, and Gold's Beach were much more pleasant to drive through. After beautiful Brookings, 101 entered California and got quite woodsy. After a junction with U.S. 199 (toward Grant's Pass) I went through Crescent City, home of nasty prison Pelican Bay. Afterward, 101 was quite curvy and woodsy, but pretty due to no more rain. At dinner time I finally got into Eureka and decided to spend the night there at a Holiday Inn Express.
The next morning, I mildly cheated and had the continental breakfast at the hotel, then got back on 101. Just south of Fortuna, I got onto the Avenue of the Redwoods, a winding road which was actually old 101 and much prettier than the freeway. The road finally ended at 101 just before entering Mendocino County. In Leggett, there was a nice tourist attraction with a drive-through tree. Recent rains have destroyed this, I am sad to say.
Overall, this was one of my best road trips. I had a great combo of classic rock and audio books to entertain me and occasionally keep me awake. I'd love to do it again with my family one day.
Sunday, January 1, 2017
The Second Solo (not Han Jr.)
Earlier I wrote about my very first solo road trip in January 1995. Hard to believe that was almost 22 years ago, half my lifetime really. At that point, my parents' marriage was almost 2 months from ending. Having a car in college freed me to be a bit more social...or alone to think, which was necessary form time to time.
In mid-March, the marriage was over and thus began a long period of adjustment for me, about 3 years worth.Well, I had to get home at some point, and Spring Break in April was the time to do it.
The trip did not start out solo, as I'd offered to drop two guys from the dorms at the Oakland Airport. We set off pretty early on 101, then grabbed I 580. Almost immediately we were on the San Rafael-Richmond Bridge, a long but unimpressive span across the northern bay. After that we passed through Richmond, El Cerrito, and Emeryville before hitting Oakland...all 3 towns suffering from urban blight As the northernmost part of the 880 freeway had not been rebuilt form the 1989 earthquake, we had to take 980 to 880. I got to the airport by about 7am, traffic was still fairly light then. Afterward, finally alone, I continued down 880 all the way through the South Bay urban blight cities...they really all look the same. Early morning rush hour caused a few slow areas, but it flowed well overall.
In San Jose, I returned to 101. The scenery got less urban and more country. All around were yellow-brown hills with a few green patches for 40 miles. At last I went through some woodsy curves after Gilroy (home of garlic and it smells like it!) and was in Monterey County. By this time I was pretty hungry so I stopped at an IHOP around 10am for some Swedish crepes and eggs.
The landscape in Monterey County around 101 was still yellow-brown hills for the most part, hitting small towns every 15-20 miles. After getting into San Luis Obispo County, the landscape turned pretty hilly for many miles, going through the towns of Atascadero, Paso Robles, and San Luis Obispo, then a great view of the ocean at Pismo Beach. 101 then turned inland again as it entered Santa Barbara County. Shortly after Buellton, 101 took a huge curve to the east at Gaviota Pass, offering a great view of the Pacific Ocean for dozens of miles. 101 passed through the picturesque towns of Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Carpenteria before entering Ventura County to pass through blighted Ventura and Oxnard. In one of those towns I grabbed some lunch but for the life of me, I cannot remember where!
Entering Los Angeles County, 101 passed through the beautiful Agoura Hills before entering the San Fernando Valley. Soon, I was entering motion picture land. 101 turned southeast onto the Hollywood Freeway, but I stayed on the current freeway which was now CA 134 through Glendale and then Pasadena before the freeway became I 210...and also became a bit more congested as it traveled through the San Gabriel Valley through ugly town after town. Twenty miles east, the freeway ended on CA 66, former home of U.S. 66 in its glory days. I now had to contend with lights, but it was a small price to pay to be on a classic road. I went through Sam Dimas, Laverne, and Claremont before entering San Bernardino County to pass through Upland and Rancho Cucamonga. At one point, I stopped at a McDonald's just because it strove for a classic building design. The food, however, was far from classic.
Finally, I hit I 15 south and took the congested rush hour freeway back to San Diego via Norco, Corona, Lake Elsinore, Temecula, and Escondido. I was tired, it was almost 7pm. It was a strange visit home, particularly because I now had 2 homes: my Dad's house and Mom's new apartment. Both were still getting used to their new lives, having their happy moments as well as tough ones. I think my mom, despite a lower income than my dad, had things slightly easier. For one thing, at that point she and her sister Terry were close and lived close to one another so there was a support system. Mom was also a better cook, and she lived near some pretty decent restaurants by San Diego State.
Almost 22 years later, I remember this trip fondly for the scenery, music on the radio, and self-reflection.
In mid-March, the marriage was over and thus began a long period of adjustment for me, about 3 years worth.Well, I had to get home at some point, and Spring Break in April was the time to do it.
The trip did not start out solo, as I'd offered to drop two guys from the dorms at the Oakland Airport. We set off pretty early on 101, then grabbed I 580. Almost immediately we were on the San Rafael-Richmond Bridge, a long but unimpressive span across the northern bay. After that we passed through Richmond, El Cerrito, and Emeryville before hitting Oakland...all 3 towns suffering from urban blight As the northernmost part of the 880 freeway had not been rebuilt form the 1989 earthquake, we had to take 980 to 880. I got to the airport by about 7am, traffic was still fairly light then. Afterward, finally alone, I continued down 880 all the way through the South Bay urban blight cities...they really all look the same. Early morning rush hour caused a few slow areas, but it flowed well overall.
In San Jose, I returned to 101. The scenery got less urban and more country. All around were yellow-brown hills with a few green patches for 40 miles. At last I went through some woodsy curves after Gilroy (home of garlic and it smells like it!) and was in Monterey County. By this time I was pretty hungry so I stopped at an IHOP around 10am for some Swedish crepes and eggs.
The landscape in Monterey County around 101 was still yellow-brown hills for the most part, hitting small towns every 15-20 miles. After getting into San Luis Obispo County, the landscape turned pretty hilly for many miles, going through the towns of Atascadero, Paso Robles, and San Luis Obispo, then a great view of the ocean at Pismo Beach. 101 then turned inland again as it entered Santa Barbara County. Shortly after Buellton, 101 took a huge curve to the east at Gaviota Pass, offering a great view of the Pacific Ocean for dozens of miles. 101 passed through the picturesque towns of Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Carpenteria before entering Ventura County to pass through blighted Ventura and Oxnard. In one of those towns I grabbed some lunch but for the life of me, I cannot remember where!
Entering Los Angeles County, 101 passed through the beautiful Agoura Hills before entering the San Fernando Valley. Soon, I was entering motion picture land. 101 turned southeast onto the Hollywood Freeway, but I stayed on the current freeway which was now CA 134 through Glendale and then Pasadena before the freeway became I 210...and also became a bit more congested as it traveled through the San Gabriel Valley through ugly town after town. Twenty miles east, the freeway ended on CA 66, former home of U.S. 66 in its glory days. I now had to contend with lights, but it was a small price to pay to be on a classic road. I went through Sam Dimas, Laverne, and Claremont before entering San Bernardino County to pass through Upland and Rancho Cucamonga. At one point, I stopped at a McDonald's just because it strove for a classic building design. The food, however, was far from classic.
Finally, I hit I 15 south and took the congested rush hour freeway back to San Diego via Norco, Corona, Lake Elsinore, Temecula, and Escondido. I was tired, it was almost 7pm. It was a strange visit home, particularly because I now had 2 homes: my Dad's house and Mom's new apartment. Both were still getting used to their new lives, having their happy moments as well as tough ones. I think my mom, despite a lower income than my dad, had things slightly easier. For one thing, at that point she and her sister Terry were close and lived close to one another so there was a support system. Mom was also a better cook, and she lived near some pretty decent restaurants by San Diego State.
Almost 22 years later, I remember this trip fondly for the scenery, music on the radio, and self-reflection.
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