We’re on the road again, after 14 days here in Acton. Our next destination is Pismo Beach, 1/2 way between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The weather forecast is for rain and we’re hoping that we miss it, though 90% chances sounds like we might be driving in rain at some time. We plan to start early however, hoping to get lots of our driving done before the rain starts.
Up early, breakfast and, as is usual when we want to get going early, Gary did not shave. He claims he looks ‘dangerous’ that way and who am I to disabuse him of that. Last night Gary had unhooked our utilities except for the electricity and we had hitched our car to the RV so all we had to do in the morning was to drive out. We got on the road by 8:30 and were at our first stop, the donut shop, by 9:00. Huge old fashioneds and mammoth long johns. And, what is the problem with that, asks the ‘dangerous’ one.
We were 1/3 of our way along when the rain hit. However it was a light steady rain which was fine to drive in. When we hit Ventura on the coast and turned right to begin our drive up the coast, it had stopped and, though not sunny, was merely overcast. Driving from Ventura north on route 101, we were right beside the beach and what a marvelous view. If you want a feeling of freedom just rolling down the highway this is your drive. The beach and ocean are to your left, the green hills and canyons are to your right.
I always seem to have a song playing in my head and today, as we were crusing along the ocean in Ventura, an old song by the group America popped in. I can sing the whole song but haven’t a clue what it’s about.
Ventura Highway
Chewing on a piece of grass walking down the road
Tell me, how long you gonna stay here Joe?
Some people say this town don't look good in snow
You don't care, I know
Ventura Highway in the sunshine
Where the days are longer
The nights are stronger than moonshine
You're gonna go, I know
'Cause the free wind is blowin' through your hair
And the days surround your daylight there
Seasons crying no despair
Alligator lizards in the air
US 101, follows the coastline for quite a long ways. We could see oil derricks ghostly out in the ocean. Ever since the Santa Barbara spill, they have been closed but they remain on the horizon, rising up our of the sea. Then we turned inland and headed north towards Pismo Beach.
We arrived in our campground about 1:00 and, as Gary hooked up our utilities, I cleaned the RV (not that this is my favorite task but, when we travel, everything is stowed and it’s easy to clean) and got everything out for our stay here. And, then it began to rain, hard. Gary barely made it inside before the skies opened up. Great time for lunch and I reheated some left-over chili. Soon the rain let up a bit and Gary went out to clean the RV. Huh? Yep, there's my smart guy out in the rain washing the RV. Sure gives the rest of the RV park a warm and cozy feeling about the new people here. Yep, they'll probably skirt our RV and eye us carefully. 'Watch out for that crazy couple in site 134' they're whispering.
And, in the evening, we took a walk along the beach. Can’t let a day go by without an ocean fix.
Later I finished reading the book, The Help. What a good book. Usually my reading tends towards true stories, murder mysteries or history. In most cases, I know the ending before I start the book. In this case, I did not and it was a treat watching how the characters grew (or did not) and how the plot developed. Not only that, but I certainly learned more about relationships between the races in the 1950’s. Excellent book and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants a ‘good read.’
No comments:
Post a Comment