Wait, where the heck did 2017 go? It’s already December? I know where the last three months went, it’s right here on the map: coast to coast, from September 5 to December 5, racking up 5200 miles. Not the most direct route, but a fun one with lots of family and friends along the way.
Now that I’ve made it through that meandering line across the US, I’m going to enjoy California for a month. I’m back in Santa Cruz for a week or so, enjoying my west coast home and catching up with friends and enjoying the beach.
Let’s recap the week, which actually felt like two completely different weeks. The first part was all quiet and relaxation while boondocking at Quartzsite in southern Arizona. It’s way too early for the usual winter snowbird crowds so I had a whole section to myself and thoroughly enjoyed it and that big full moon was a beautiful sight every night.
The second part of the week was me, moving, moving, moving. Or more accurately, me driving, then driving more, and then driving still more, moving from Quartzsite to Santa Cruz in three days (245 miles, 240 miles, 140 miles).
Monday night I camped out at a winery in Paso Robles, part of a membership program called Harvest Hosts, where you can stay at farms, wineries, and museums for free, although it helps them out to buy the product (I have four holiday presents taken care of now…). The bonus was I got to wander around the vineyards before sunset and have fun with camera in hand.
Tuesday’s was a familiar drive, part of the route I used to drive at least 3-4 times a year when I lived in Santa Cruz and my parents were living in SoCal. Not much changes from year to year, but I enjoyed seeing the familiar names and knowing exactly where I was going without having to depend on Garmin and Google Maps to get me there. And once I got here and got set up, I went for a long walk on the beach, so SO familiar to me from 12 years of walking it. One thing is different, though; the concrete ship didn’t survive the storms of last winter and that makes me sad.
Today I’m moving spots to one overlooking Monterey Bay, where I’ll be sitting pretty for a week. Ah, the joys of staying in one place for a while!
Every traveler has a home of her own, and she learns to appreciate the more from her wandering.
(With apologies to Charles Dickens)