California here we come, California here we go

Completely stopped in the desert.

There are a number of reasons I would never consider living in California again. The cost of living is high, there are more crazies per square foot than anywhere else I can think, but the biggest reason of all is the traffic. I don’t care if it is 2 a.m. on a Tuesday morning, you can find a traffic jam in California.

So it is always with some trepidation that I drive into California. We love visiting the children and grandchildren, but you just never know what awaits you when you make the trip.

Our weekend at the park went quickly and included another rainy day on Saturday. So rainy that we decided that we had recovered enough from the bloody World War II fiction “Fury” we saw Monday to see “American Sniper.” (more on the rain at the end)

Making new friends on the road.

It was a stunningly good movie, although without giving away the ending, I was probably the only person in the theater who was shocked at what the final outcome of the movie and the sniper’s life was.

Sunday we went to church and then I took Joan to the nail salon so she could get her fingers and toes in shape for our California trip. On the way there asked me to go to the nearby grocery store to pick up a get well card for a friend.

Being the dutiful husband I entered the grocery store – did I mention this was Super Bowl Sunday – about four hours before the game and the inside of the store was a mob scene. I waited forever in a line for the self serve checkout to pay for one solitary greeting card. People thought I was crazy.

Joan at Rick's Picks

When I got back to the nail salon I walked over to the chair where Joan was dipping her toes and whispered to her: “You do realize that you made me go into the grocery store on Super Bowl Sunday.” She said she was sorry, but I’m not so sure she was.

Back home, Joan did laundry and I headed to a nearby pizza parlor to buy our Super Bowl dinner.

We watched the game and its incredible ending and then retired for the night.

Early Monday we got up and started our journey to California. My trip planning showed it would take us a little over seven hours to get to Burbank and my plan was to be through the LA freeway system before 3 p.m. and at our hotel.

More on why that didn’t happen later.

Joan and Cynthia

On the way out of Arizona on I-10 we first passed the slowing flying Met Life blimp that was leaving the weekend golf tournament in Phoenix. I don’t know how fast a blimp flies, but clearly it does not fly as fast as freeway traffic.

Well inside California and quite a while after leaving the Met Life blimp in our dust, we spotted yet another blimp flying above the freeway. This time is was the Goodyear blimp which we assume must have been at the Super Bowl the night before.

We quickly over took the blimp and put it in our rear view mirror. That, however, was to be short lived.

About 90 miles east of Indio we saw the first of two electronic signs that warned us that there was a traffic accident ahead and that there could be a two hour delay.

Me and Cynthia

Well, we guessed it might be cleaned up by the time we got there. About 21 miles east of Indio the traffic stopped. And I mean stopped. Some people turned around and went back, but for us there was no other route so we knew we had to wait it out.

And wait we did. Traffic stopped at 12:40 p.m. and we didn’t clear the accident which was only about 15 miles ahead until after 3 p.m. That also put us in the middle of Los Angeles rush hour traffic so a trip that should have taken us seven hours took us more than ten hours. I did stand outside the truck and talk to other motorists and work on my tan.

The accident involved a frozen chicken truck colliding with a truck load of bees. I found these photos and story online about the accident.

Me, William and Joan in Will's home

Along the route we crossed “Sore Finger Road” and a number of cars carrying very unhappy Seattle Seahawks fans heading home to California from the Super Bowl.

Last time we came through California the agriculture inspection station was closed so we took a chance this year and brought some clementines to eat on the trip. These small citrus fruits are our favorite but are likely not allowed across the border.

As luck would have it the border station was open and we quickly peeled the tangerines as we waited in the inspection line and tried to consume them before we got to the inspector. Joan was still eating hers when we pulled up and without a moment’s hesitation the inspector waved us through even though Joan had her fruit in her hand as we drove by.

Las Vegas

We also passed an interesting license plate in Arizona, one that we knew our son John might appreciate: “AZ JEDIS”

At the weekly free donut breakfast the park announced that they are participating in an anti-obesity program. Get it, they serve free donuts and are fighting obesity. Love it.

I was going to write about the rain at the park, but it is long gone and the warm temperatures have returned so, forget it.

The California leg of our trip was fun we got to see both boys – William and Tim – our wonderful new daughter-in-law Toni and both of our granddaughters – Brittany and Teri. Unfortunately while we were there “Moonlight,” Teri’s cat left the house and to this date has not returned. We are praying for a safe resolution to her missing cat.

The view of our hotel from Ed and Betty's room.

When my son Tim finally sends me some photos of our stay with him I'll post those photos too.

We also attended Teri’s play – she has the lead role in “Nymph” – a rather racy story about a wood nymph turned human. The play was in nearby Seaside, California and she was outstanding in the very funny play.

Joan also got a chance to stop at her favorite California fruit and vegetable stop near Watsonville and she loaded up on 4-for-a-dollar avocados. We picked up some artichokes and other goodies as well.

Lake Mead ahead

We all met for dinner at a local restaurant and celebrated February birthdays for Brittany, Teri and Toni at the dinner with a cake we bought in Danville during our short but wonderful visit with cousin Cynthia. The visit did provide us a chance to visit one of our favorite “junk” stores – Rik’s Picks – in downtown Danville. Lots of good stuff and some bad stuff there.

With the end of the California leg of our trip we headed back to Tucson by way of Las Vegas. Joan had “earned” two free nights at Treasure Island Resort so we used both of them as a chance to visit our friends Ed and Betty who winter for five weeks in sin city.

We ate dinner with them both nights (Sunday and Monday) and Joan of course did her level best to earn us a couple more “free” nights next year.

Pam and Gloria arrive to sunny Tucson

With guests from Michigan headed our way on Thursday we finished our journey home to Tucson on Tuesday afternoon. We had our usual routine on Wednesday, except we added a lot of cleaning and preparation work to it. I had my workout in the fitness center – Joan had her aquacise and I spent an hour in the wood carving shop.

The show Wednesday in the ballroom was “Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds” a classic country show, so we stayed home.

Thursday brought Bible study – the men finished our Revelations study – and then Joan and I went shopping to stock up on food for our guests. We headed to the Tucson airport about 3:40 p.m. and the flight carrying Pam and Gloria was right on time and so we only waited about 5 minutes in the cell phone lot until they called and said they were ready to be picked up.

The flooded dog park

Back at the resort they checked into the hotel and we went to dinner at the resort restaurant. Unfortunately, the wind was a little too brisk to sit outside, even though temperatures were in the high 60s.

After a long day traveling Pam and Gloria turned in early as we have a big day planned for Friday, including a visit to Phoenix and our friends Ryan and Chelsea for dinner. Sorry for the delayed post, but sometimes life gets in the way.

In our last post I mentioned the approaching rainstorm. Well, it arrived and it arrived in Biblical proportions (for this area). In just over a day more than 2-inches of rain fell within a 48-hour time period (the most since 2010).

The Tahoe and trailer in the rain.

The washes were full, people (hikers) had to be rescued from overflowing canyons and the news was full of gasping reporters talking about the rainstorm. We stayed mostly in except to go and see American Sniper, which was really good. I know I mentioned that earlier, but it was really, really good. 

Just as the rain ended and the weather improved we headed to northern California (see above) where it rained again for two days. But they need the rain there too, so we never complain when folks who need rain get it.

I’m adding a couple photos from the park of the rain that fell on us. The photo of the flooded dog park is probably the most telling as we’ve never seen water in there before.

If I've forgotten anything Joan will let me know and I'll include it in the next post. See you soon.