day 1
159 miles
159 total
parking lot by dark
started too late, missed sunset at the Wildlife Refuge. Giant tent in my parking lot, no worries, parked in next lot.
started too late, missed sunset at the Wildlife Refuge. Giant tent in my parking lot, no worries, parked in next lot.
day 2
63 miles
222 total
route 20
The grass is still green so the Coastal Mtns are very pretty today.
The grass is still green so the Coastal Mtns are very pretty today.
day 3
95 miles
317 total
Silverado Trail
Yellow flowers (goldenrod?) between the rows of grapevines, beautiful green hills and crystal clear air.
Yellow flowers (goldenrod?) between the rows of grapevines, beautiful green hills and crystal clear air.
day 4
0 miles
317 total
no driving
didn’t quite leave, a very enjoyable pack the van and get ready day.
didn’t quite leave, a very enjoyable pack the van and get ready day.
day 5
237 miles
554 total
Route 1 to San Simeon
Couldn't've been prettier, but the curvy road through Big Sur really wore me out.
Couldn't've been prettier, but the curvy road through Big Sur really wore me out.
day 6
154 miles
708 total
Cambria to Goleta
sort of rainy, but a real nice day anyway, except for the near death experience accident we avoided.
sort of rainy, but a real nice day anyway, except for the near death experience accident we avoided.
day 7
179 miles
887 total
Santa Barbara - LA - OC - Dana Point
what a stimulating day of driving! the affluence of Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Newport, then the mean streets of Oxnard, Inglewood, Long Beach. All by simply following Route 1 down the coast!
what a stimulating day of driving! the affluence of Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Newport, then the mean streets of Oxnard, Inglewood, Long Beach. All by simply following Route 1 down the coast!
day 8
51 miles
938 total
Southern OC - Camp Pendleton - North County
Easy drive though the rest of OC, then Camp Pendleton then Oceanside, lunch in Carlsbad and on to the old stomping grounds in Encinitas
Easy drive though the rest of OC, then Camp Pendleton then Oceanside, lunch in Carlsbad and on to the old stomping grounds in Encinitas
day 9
33 miles
971 total
Legoland
go to breakfast, shoot hoops with Ty, go to Legoland. that's 51 miles?
go to breakfast, shoot hoops with Ty, go to Legoland. that's 51 miles?
10
34 miles
1,005 total
La Jolla
San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center, then the Torrey Pines, La Jolla coastal route to the next campground
San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center, then the Torrey Pines, La Jolla coastal route to the next campground
11
53 miles
1,058 total
bad traffic day
Started and ended real nice, Bird Rock Coffee and sunset in La Jolla. But in between was a clusterf--- of bad driving decisions and bad traffic, which seems to be a constant in that Mission Bay part of SD
Started and ended real nice, Bird Rock Coffee and sunset in La Jolla. But in between was a clusterf--- of bad driving decisions and bad traffic, which seems to be a constant in that Mission Bay part of SD
12
108 miles
1,166 total
a day in San Diego on my own
Train station adventure, delightful solo Sunday in SD, check in at the Walmart
Train station adventure, delightful solo Sunday in SD, check in at the Walmart
13
189 miles
1,355 total
Laguna Mountains
I-8, left on Sunrise Hwy, right at Julian down Banner Grade , circle around the bottom of Salton Sea, and boom! there you are!
I-8, left on Sunrise Hwy, right at Julian down Banner Grade , circle around the bottom of Salton Sea, and boom! there you are!
14
84 miles
1,439 total
Chocolate Mountains
Pretty drive thorough the Chocolate Mtns, then up the hill in Joshua Tree, through the famous valley where you transition from the Sonora to the Mohave desert!
Pretty drive thorough the Chocolate Mtns, then up the hill in Joshua Tree, through the famous valley where you transition from the Sonora to the Mohave desert!
15
218 miles
1,657 total
Mohave Desert
Twentynine Palms, the real desert, Kelso, Tecopa. Long but satisfying drive
Twentynine Palms, the real desert, Kelso, Tecopa. Long but satisfying drive
16
90 miles
1,747 total
Las #$@%ing Vegas
Hard to leave my perfect spot, visited the date farm at China Canyon, date shake! Scuttled across the bottom of LV from west to east, which was too much LV for me.
Hard to leave my perfect spot, visited the date farm at China Canyon, date shake! Scuttled across the bottom of LV from west to east, which was too much LV for me.
17
168 miles
1,915 total
punt Valley of Fire, shop in Overton
I need propane and I need beer, so I visit scenic Overton instead of the Valley of Fire. I’m OK with that. Spend afternoon at Pahranagat.
I need propane and I need beer, so I visit scenic Overton instead of the Valley of Fire. I’m OK with that. Spend afternoon at Pahranagat.
18
80 miles
1,995 total
breakfast in Caliente
Start late and stop early! Quite enjoyed my breakfast in Caliente. The tweekers at the minimart, not so much.
Start late and stop early! Quite enjoyed my breakfast in Caliente. The tweekers at the minimart, not so much.
19
250 miles
2,245 total
Pioche, Ely, lotta driving
Breakfast at the only place in Pioche, which seems to have gotten much deader in the last five years. Beautiful drive up 93, salad at the funky Nevada Hotel in Ely. The weather is turning ugly, it’s snowier and colder that I was ready for. 180 more miles, get to Hickison, it’s half snowed in, the road is muddy and sketchy for the van.
Breakfast at the only place in Pioche, which seems to have gotten much deader in the last five years. Beautiful drive up 93, salad at the funky Nevada Hotel in Ely. The weather is turning ugly, it’s snowier and colder that I was ready for. 180 more miles, get to Hickison, it’s half snowed in, the road is muddy and sketchy for the van.
20
267 miles
2,512 total
Austin, more US 50, Stillwater NWR, home!
Creepy weather night at Hickison, lovely day today! Hang out at Stillwater for a good chunk of the afternoon. Nice to be home.
Creepy weather night at Hickison, lovely day today! Hang out at Stillwater for a good chunk of the afternoon. Nice to be home.