(no subject)

[mlerules]

'Twas a really good quickie-trip. Many thx ebony_sphynx for inspiring it, even though you didn't get to share in it directly. The drive down from Mendocino to Carmel Highlands yesterday was lovely. Got out of the car at one point to sit and breath deeply of the familiar scents and stare up at the redwoods and feel at ease and calm and happy and content. Stopped later on in Cloverdale at the Owl Cafe for a chocolate milkshake. We used to stop here on our way to and from my grandparents in So OR so it brought back more good memories. When I finally made it to Carmel (before dark), I had a simple dinner and then before lighting the fire headed upstairs to dump off my bag...whereupon I crawled into bed and slept for approx 14 hours. Woke up nicely refreshed. Had brunch at Cafe Kevah and made my way down Hwy 1 through Big Sur as per tradition. SO NICE, even w/fogginess at times along the way. Plans shifted along the way and I came all the way home rather than stopping in Lompoc for the night. This meant I hit Santa Barbara at 5pm. Rather than deal w/Friday rush hour traffic, however, I called up my step-sis and spent a very pleasant three (3) hours w/her, her hubby, and their youngest daughter, catching up and eating dinner (Grandma's Spaghetti (sp) which I haven't had in approx a quarter-century, salad, and homemade peach pie). Felt nicely full of energy and goodness all the way. Now I'm home again and ready to collapse.

Upcoming Plans:
Sat: eve b-day party somewhere South of here
Tu: niceness at night
Fri: drive to L-poc
Sat: help friend move
Sun: return home

DRIVE LOG:
Tu: (Santa Monica) 10 - 405 - 5 - 152 - 101 - 280 - 101 - 128 - 1 (Mendocino)
Wed: 1 - 100 miles total and I didn't drive any of it: woo-hoo!
Th: (Mendocino) 1 - 128 - 101 - 85 - 101 - 152 - 1 (Carmel Highlands)
Fri: (Carmel Highlands) 1 - 46 - 101 - 405 - 10 (Santa Monica)