We promised ourselves we'd stop in places we hadn't been before... well, except for San Diego of course... who can resist that delectable sailors haven?
Thur Oct 17th to Mount Shasta, CA: We enjoyed a great 6-7 hour drive, through gorgeous scenic ranch land and mountains... all the way to Mount Shasta, California. What a breathtaking place! We stayed at the Cold Creek Inn, a small but immaculate motel, situated within the shadow of Mount Shasta. There were several nice restaurants in the area and we drove a few blocks through the main drag checking them all out. Many had good reviews... we chose the pub (of course) just the other side of the downtown area... and had pizza and salad for dinner... then back 'home' for a good nights sleep. The water here comes right from the springs...it's almost freezing cold but very good; we filled our water jugs before we left the next morning.... continuing our trek south - this time towards another 'new' place for us, Elk Grove, CA.
Fri. Oct 18th to Elk Grove, CA: This next leg of our journey took us through kind of a 'badland'... very few 'nice' places to stay - or so we thought. But, after driving for 3-4 hours, we found Elk Grove and stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn (we've been getting the AAA discount which really helps with the room prices). A very nice hotel, with a great brew pub beside it, and friendly staff... who could ask for more. And, just as you leave their parking lot there's a Chevron station with a MacDonald's (they have this new egg white breakfast bun... very nice and half the calories) which is very convenient.... Then it was 'right' onto the Hwy and with our new GPS (Jack) calmly explaining where to go (very handy when faced with 6 lanes of traffic and a turn or exit coming up in 3... 2.5... 2.4... miles) there's a whole lot less paper map flapping and debate about when, where and how to get off the #?!* freeway :-)
Sat. Oct. 20th to Irvine, CA: This was the day we'd hoped to stop in Uplands, at the Garhauer store, to purchase some kayak racks... but, no luck,... no answer of phone meant (we assume) they weren't open - so we didn't even try. We pressed on and 6 or 7 hours later we arrived in Irvine, CA. Another Hilton hotel, this one at the airport (Hilton Irvine / Orange County Airport) gave us refuge. Here, we met Lynn (wife of our friend Grant in Mazatlan) and had a great Vietnamese meal for dinner. But the next morning it was time to go again... so after lugging our bags back out to the truck we headed on down the road.
Security: Each time we've driven from home to Mexico we've had to carry quite a bit of 'stuff'. Most of it's boat 'stuff' and each time we say "phew, that was a load! Next year's will be smaller". But they just seem to keep getting bigger and bigger. This year, the good ship Shannon is demanding much of the equipment we left at home be returned. Little things, like the pull-out couch cushion and the original main sail and the door to the heads. Finicky things like the broken hydraulic back-stay adjuster and a box of parts that may aid in its repair, and the propane tank to replace the lovely, fibreglass one that has been recalled #!*#. And then there's our own 'stuff', clothing and meds for 6 months, along with maintenance materials and tools for the boat. The list goes on but my reason for reporting this is to explain that the 'stuff', the payload, the cargo... is so crammed in to Chuck the Truck there isn't any room left, even for a new pair of shoes... nope, Chuck is full to the brim. Luckily I made curtains for the canopy last year... and with the curtains closed the load is less obvious to passing opportunists. But we still do our very best to keep Chuck in sight, parking right outside the restaurant window, and trying for rooms that over-look the parking lot, and covering the pile of 'stuff' behind our seats (there wouldn't have been room for Sophie on this run even if she'd wanted to come) with a nice grey blanket. We always put the 'club' on and we choose parking spots that are either right under a light or backed up to a wall if possible... and then we just walk away with our fingers crossed. It's very stressful, but there's nothing much more we can do. Anyway, I digress.
Sun Oct. 20th to San Diego, CA: I was about to say that, after leaving Irvine, and 7 or 8 hours later.. we pulled in to San Diego. But actually, there was no real definition between Irvine and San Diego... kind of like driving from Richmond to Coquitlam... but in a much bigger way. So, thanks to Jack the GPS, we actually made it off the freeway at the right place and didn't carry on until we ran out of road and town.
Have I mentioned we love San Diego? We really do. This time we're staying at the Best Western Plus Island Palms Hotel on Shelter Island Drive. It's in the heart of the sailing and naval community. There are boats and ships and cruisers everywhere you look and there are miles of docks to be walked... once you manage to gain entry (most are locked or private :-) We've found some interesting boats for sale and some even better boats that aren't. We've visited with old friends and made some new friends. We arrived Sunday afternoon and have spent the last day and a half just visiting our favourite places and hanging out (there's a pool and hot tub just down the hall). There's nothing finer than looking out your window at beautiful sailing yachts beating up and down the bay... and junior sailing classes filled to the brim... and a sea of masts waving in the breeze.. on both sides of the drive. Even the sound of the whistle buoys are neat, taking us instantly back to our time 'at sea' when those whistles or horns were the sound of safety on our foggy journey. We had dinner last night with friends Larry and Nelda (SV Diamond Girl) and listened to their tales of their previous journey down the coast and across to the South Pacific. It sure doesn't take many stories to cause a girl to wonder.... just wonder... a bit... about the possibilities... Don't worry sisters, no real intent here.. just playing with ideas :-)
Today (Tuesday) is our last day here and we hope to spend it doing a little shopping and seeing a few more people. Tomorrow we head for Arizona, just north of the Nogales border crossing. When and how we cross remains to be determined.... seems there's some confusion about exactly where we are to pick up our Tourist Cards.. and, although the advice has been to cross early, if we need the bank (and usually you do) to complete the Visa process, well... the banks don't open till 8. So, I've more research to do but wanted to drop a note to you folks before I get started... besides it's nice and quiet here in the mornings... a good time to write.
So for now good friends.... know we are well and enjoying ourselves... We're missing our Princess Sophie who has stayed home to care for her friends Susan and George (and didn't really want to come with us for the long drive and the hot hours of work time on the good ship Shannon anyway) but we know she's having fun and enjoying some great company. Tomorrow we press on and the day after that we will be crossing in to Mexico (first stop Guaymas where we will stay for Friday as well). We should be in Mazatlan by Saturday, Oct. 26th and busy at work on Shannon by the 27th. Will write again when I can.
We wish you all much peace, good health, and happy times. Stay well. Bye bye for now... CJ
