I realize as I write today that last week I did not take time to blog.  Literally… I did not TAKE time.  I was a busy woman with so many other things that writing fell to the side.  I also realize, as I write, that I enjoy being able to share my thoughts and experiences… thinking out loud.  One of the things I have fallen prey to over the years is taking on too much day-to-day.  I end up with so much on my plate that I start pushing things aside.  Not intentionally, mind you, but pushed none the less.

This past weekend I took a road trip to visit an old friend.  It was a long drive up to the Adirondacks of New York.  Despite the many miles, it was a relatively easy drive.   Despite the incessant rain, it was a fantastic visit.  There was no fishing, no hiking, and no camping.  However, it was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with my friend.

Time passes.  Life happens.  If we are lucky, we wander through it with a few friends who accept us exactly as we are, and we them.  I am so blessed to have people in my world that are exactly that type of friend.

Yesterday was a day of rest and relaxation in San Mateo.  Katie Q took the seat as passenger and her hubby took us to Half Moon Bay, along the Pacific coast for a fantastic lunch at Half Moon Bay Brewery.  Her hubby and I opted for a Dungeness crab roll and fries.  I sipped a Pumpkin Ale with my meal and it was delightful.  Katie Q found a vegan option in a Portabella mushroom burger, also with fries, and a pumpkin stout.  We all had our fill and enjoyed the trip to the coast.

We had a good night’s rest for our last night “on the road”.   I say that because we will be spending the rest of our trip in the comfort of Katie Q and her hubby’s new home in California. 

Wow.

It is hard to believe this adventure is coming to a close!

We spent the night in Oxnard, California in a large house we found on Air BnB.  It was a huge house in a residential area.  The houses were literally four to five feet apart.  There were six bedrooms and this was the first place we stayed where there was a communal bathroom.  Strange, but comfortable.

We were up before sunrise.  Our destination was over three hours drive-time away and we wanted to get an early start.  We stopped at a McDonalds for a cup of coffee and hopped back on Highway 101 headed north, then getting on Interstate 5.  

The Day 9 blog was cut a bit short as we were not sure about the ability of “connectivity” to post, so the ramblings today will bring you up to speed.

Yesterday we spent a good deal of the day on the road going from the Grand Canyon in Arizona, southwest, under the tip of Nevada, and into southern California.  It was a desolate trip for many of the miles. 

We thought Kansas was a long, wide-open state.  Kansas had signs of life.  Large, sprawling fields, cows, and traffic on the highway.

We drove through the darkness in Arizona last evening, marveling at the sunset we witnessed along the way.  It was about 7:00 PM local time when we arrived at Grand Canyon National Park.  Our “sign selfie” would have to wait.  Arizona does not recognize daylight savings time, so the hour changeover took us a bit by surprise.

Our stay at the Parkway Motel in Orderville, Utah last night was pleasant.  Katie Q booked it through Air BnB and we were not sure what to expect.  Our host was pleasant, and welcomed us with information about the area including food and recreation.  The bonus was that we were only about 30 minutes from our destination for today.

We had a long, dark drive to our resting spot last night.  We were tired, hungry, and desperately in need of showers after the day of hiking.  We had no cellular service after leaving Moab, and could not check in with our people.

Our internal alarm clocks woke us this morning well before daybreak. That was good given we had a full day on the itinerary.  We packed and slipped out of the house quietly so not to disturb our hosts at Oliver House.

Once on our way, we stopped at Wicked Brew for coffee. They serve a great cup of coffee and we recommend them to anyone needing a morning caffeine fix in the Moab area.  We had our protein bars and bananas for breakfast and we were ready for the day.