For the past few days I've been touring southern california. We're not strangers to each other, as I travel most frequently here. This trip has been a couple days in Anaheim for a conference (but not Disneyland) and I stayed at one of my favorite hotels - The Alpine Inn. The rooms are nothing special. I am drawn to the fake snow that is always on the roof and eaves of it. It's totally Disneyland kitsch from way back way back.
After being enlightened, it's further south to visit family. I was driving around Oceanside, a town I have visited for over 20 years. This past trip I was meandering parts of town I had never seen or explored. I caught a great sunset a the beach. I've been going to this beach since I was... 7 I think. I watched the waves and walked in the sand and saw the golden globe that gives us life sink into the blue. There was a family having a picnic with a fire. I was jealous because I have always wanted to have a beach fire out there and never have. I decided that next time I visit, I will do a beach picnic with a fire into the night. The sky turned golden orange and then deeper as time passed. The palm trees were etched in shades of night.
Today I drove up the 15 - inland. I saw the exit for 395. It reminded me of the time I spent most of my day driving up 395 from Four Corners Junction, just outside of Barstow, on my motorcycle. What a hot, dusty, windy road. Beautiful and exhilirating.
I love the rocky landscape. Large hills (are they considered mountains?) filled with scrub and boulders. I am reminded of the Mojave. The rock piles of Joshua Tree. I'm headed east before north tomorrow. I can feel the pull of the desert. I am so close. I keep to 15 and shy from 215 and traffic. I see the river with it's eddies and swirls and a stand of black barked trees. I wonder how the landscape will look when the water dries up. I enter horse country.
Tomorrow, I'm planning on spending a lot of time in the car. I want to make "good time" and reach San Francisco tomorrow night. I don't know if I will. The desert calls so strongly that I will detour to Joshua Tree. I'll probably do the south entrance and then jump on up to Joshua Tree and skirt along Lucerne Valley. I know these roads and love them. The car will be screaming to go into 4wd - but I didn't plan off roading this trip. Well, lack of planning didn't stop me last time.
I'll get into the desert, and then see what happens.
But what scoot? Yamaha, Suzie-Q, Kaw? Hard to tell from photo....
Posted by: Larry | February 20, 2004 at 05:05 PM