Family in SoCal

Well, California is a pretty big place. I know, that seems like an obvious statement, but please do remember that I come from a state that would fit comfortably in a single county of California. I spent about 24 days hopscotching around the state seeing many of the sights. What a blast.

I entered through the southern route. Across southern Arizona, through Tucson. After that, everything is kind of hazy. I drove as fast as RosieVan could, due west over the rock piles and sand-duned desert until I hit El Centro, CA (or rather, Hell Centro as my aunt calls it). As the sun was setting it pointed directly into my big glass cab, the outside temp was 111 and even with the AC on full blast, I felt like a chicken in a rotisserie oven. I swear you could hear me sizzling. Out there I drove along miles and miles of border fencing, the whole time praying that any being who was out there in the heat had water, shade, a map and a safe place to sleep that night.

The heat-shimmering dessert gave way to the hill lands outside San Diego. The temperature moderated immediately, and I rolled down the windows to enjoy the southern CA shoreline. I got lucky and bagged a camping spot in San Onofre on the ocean and got to watch the surfers there until sunset.

I posted up for a rendezvous with my Mom's side of the family in Mission Viejo (yes, it is as sparkling and ritzy as you've been led to believe). It was fulfilling to get to reconnect with the family. I hadn't seen them since Mom's funeral in 2015, so it was a visit long overdue. We spent hours telling stories while eating or playing cards. My Aunt is a card shark, she always has been. I left the table fleeced by her and my 16-year-old second cousin, but smiling all the way.

Next I headed up the coast toward Santa Cruz and Napa.