July 25, 2018

Gallup, NM to Oceanside, CA

We went to bed very early last night, like about 8:30. Both of us woke up several times in the night; it was not time to get up yet. At last it was 5:15 and we were ready to roll. We had the car packed, ate breakfast, and we were on the road by 6:15 mountain time. 20 minutes down the road we crossed into Arizona and Pacific time so now it was only 5:30 AM. Guess we were really ready to put in those last 650 miles and get home. We stopped at the Arizona Welcome rest stop and were greeted by a sign warning us about poisonous snakes and insects.  Of course, Dick had to note that the picture was a scorpion not an insect.

The day rolled-on without incident. We took turns driving and watched the landscape change. Arizona.  From the high desert we climbed to the shoulder of Humphrey’s Peak, the highest point in Arizona where the ponderosa pine forests dominated.  It was easy to see that the tall peak was an ancient volcano, especially with the volcanic cones arrayed around it.  Then we started the long decent to the Colorado River.  The land dried out even more as we lost altitude.  Then we could see the canyon with the river.

We really had this sense of progress when we crossed the Colorado into California.. The weather was hot, hot, hot. Places where we could see thermometers reported 105. We were very pleased to look at the weather and see the projected high at home was expected to be 82.  Definitely time to head home. But first we had to stop at the California Agriculture Inspection Station.  We had no fruit to declare so were waved through.

We feared the eastern LA Metro area traffic would already be building to rush hour proportions but we slipped through without serious problems.  It was even hotter here, 107.   We had spent the day driving, talking, napping, and listening to some podcasts. There's nothing like seeing the exit for our house. We're so appreciative of the young neighbor who looked after our yard and water the plants. Can't wait to settle in back at home.

I guess we can say that this was another successful grand adventure for Patti and Dick.