West Coast

Krista and Apryl were nice enough to set me up with a bed and play host in LA, which was great because LA was overwhelming.  It felt a little like NYC in that there were people all over the place (most of them just happened to be in cars).  It was like a sunny warm and dry version of the city that had been squashed flat and had the effective subway removed.

Just a couple days there and I'm already missing the bakery - and I hardly got a chance to see the Bigfoot Lodge.  We saw the view from the hills, saw the hollywood sign and some stars in the concrete and ate some great food.  Arlo, the puppy that likes to pounce, and I were buddies also.  Driving in LA did not appeal to me in the least (thanks Apryl for driving) ... and a motorcycle seemed crazy.  People are driving every which way and quickly - they are also angry because there are no left turn signals.

I navigated west to the beach and then followed 101 and the 1 north: huge beaches, surfboards on beetles, volleyball in the sand etc.  The desire to get home was pretty strong and it didn't leave me until I got into the redwoods.  There is something about those huge old trees that makes rushing around seem silly.  I did manage to escape the forest before the moss started growing on me ... but only just.

Oregon decided to spend a bunch of stimulus money on fixing roads I think because there was construction everywhere.  I finally gave up on the coast and turned in to get on I-5.  Despite the construction I made some serious miles until  I got to WA.  Washington welcomed me home with darkness and rain (only real rain of the trip).  Reluctantly I gave up my dreams of being in my own bed and found a motel for the night.

And finally after a short cold ride this morning I'm home again.  The apartment is trashed from digging in the closets looking for those last couple items ... but the pjs are awesome!  I think I need one more post as an end cap - maybe tomorrow.

Wonderful Windmills

Made it to the Village Bakery in L.A. and am overjoyed to just be sitting with my americano.  I'm a little worried about the air being a general shade of gray (I pondered and didn't see any other color being better: yellow - no; brown - yuck, and blue - just weird).  Traffic was good for an adrenaline generating thrill, but before that part there was the windmills.

The windmills by Palm Springs are so cool!  Looking at them reminds me of huge flowers or a steampunk landscape.  The wind what is pushing all those blades makes for a rough ride on a motorcycle though.  Thankfully the windy part didn't last too long.