Berkeley to Blythe

Sitting in a Motel 6, watching ... something ... on tv. I'm not sure what. It's the Discovery Channel ... human sacrifice, it seems. My little dog is mining the depths of the double bed, exploring the environs under the oh-so-ugly top blanket. Did they make it ugly so no one would steal it? or are the Motel 6 corporate poo-baas simply charmed by the kitschiness of it? I do not know.

Did I mention it smells funny in here? because it does. But that's okay.

I'm in Blythe, CA. Technically I began this trek in Eugene, OR, but I was too tired last night to write anything, so will begin here, from the second leg. Where am I going? Florida. Near Ft. Walton Beach. I'm going to live with Nia for awhile. Soak up the sun, recoup my energy and my joie de vivre after having spent it all on grad school. Kobee's coming with, and seems pretty darned excited about it. She's my co-pilot.

Yesterday's drive down from Eugene was long - I caravanned with my sister and her family. We left Grandma Carla and Grandpa David's around 6:30. We ate a tasty breakfast at the Breadboard in Ashland, then hung around downtown Ashland with our cousin and his family for awhile. Shell tried to ditch me at one point by ducking into a WalMart in Red Bluff, but I found her again. She was chugging down a Flurry from the McDonald's.

We cruised into Berkeley around 7:30 last night. I went to my storage unit and dropped some stuff off while Shell took our other sister's kids home to Castro Valley. We all stayed at the Hotel Durant last night. I was grateful for the comfy bed and the good sleep, but I imagine my old co-workers are wondering if I'm ever truly going to leave. I do keep turning up. A phenomenon Joe is terribly familiar with. Aren't you, Joe?

I left Berkeley around 10 this morning. No early start for me. I didn't want to be dropping off to sleep while driving. Yes. That's wise. I know. I have to say, as a Northern California girl, I harbor a subtle disdain for all things SoCal. I think it's just bred into me. But really, SoCal is a beautiful place. Mile upon mile of Central California fields suddenly broke, giving way to the soaring gorgeousness of the Tehachapi Mountains. Tres impressive.

I had decided I wanted one of the oranges I'd picked up at a fruit stand, and had begun peeling it just as I was entering the Tejon pass. I thought to put the orange away until I got to a less curvy place, but my little Honda is so slow going up hills that I just kept peeling while I crawled up the mountain at 50 miles an hour. I cruised happily in the right lane, eating my orange and gawking at the scenery.

I buzzed east from 5 south on 210 then east on 10. I didn't miss a single turn or freeway exchange. Not one. Proud of me? Those of you who know me best are, I know. I've had my shower, am in my jammies and will go to sleep in a bit. Tomorrow I'll continue east on 10 to El Paso. I think there's a health food store in Phoenix, so will stop there for some groceries. And maybe find a drug store so I can buy a can opener. Although I do enjoy wandering into random Taco Bells and asking the befuddled staff to open Kobee's cans of dog food. We'll see how that goes.

Until then!