Into the Storms

Diamond Springs, CA Feb 27, 2023.

Trip Odometer 4425

We still weren’t finished with San Diego. Let’s not forget that the Bettie Mobile still isn’t finished. Matthew took a sunny day to do paint touch up and some more galley work.

We also had a huge Saturday with our friend/host, Candace:

  • San Diego from Pt. Loma
  • At the lighthouse.
  • And some Pt. Loma beach.
  • Then we drove to a fabled taco stand at Imperial Beach.
  • Then we ate the tacos while looking at Tijuana.
  • Imperial Beach one way.
  • Imperial Beach the other way.
  • Then we went to Coronado Island for delightful cocktails at The Tavern.
  • Then to the fabled Hotel Del Coronado for the sunset.

Even with all the fun we were having in San Diego, there comes a day when it is time to go. On Wednesday, Feb 22 we headed north. By now we were getting steady winter storm warnings for all of California, especially at elevation.

We had our first pet sitting gig in Somerset, CA in two days. It would be about nine hours total driving, so we broke it into two days, with our first stop in Redlands at Dynasty Suites. This place was sandwiched between two fast food restaurants, but clearly from another era.

  • Too bad it was February and the vines weren’t in bloom.
  • A fake fireplace and well appointed closet.
  • Super fun Vietnamese Restaurant and Cocktail bar called Aroi Mak Mak.

Thursday, Feb 23

The storms were predicted to get worse in the mountains, leading us, despite our best efforts, to drive around LA, rather than take smaller roads and mountain passes. We got up at the crack of dawn and got through the worst of the stop and go traffic. The mountains to the west were clearly socked in. But still, we got through the worst of it before breakfast.

The same thing Guy Fieri ate at Pete’s Breakfast House in Ventura.

At around 1:30 pm we decide to save some drive time and cross a mountain pass from Highway 101 to Paso Robles. The weather doesn’t look too bad from where we are, but is predicted to get bad by the evening. We took Hwy 46 from Paso Robles and then picked up I5 in Kettleman City. By the time we pulled into Lodi we were starting to get into the weather. We stayed at a crappy Motel 6 by the interstate.

  • Our part of the drives was mostly sunny.
  • But you could see the clouds in the mountains.

The next day was just a short drive in grey weather to Somerset and our first pet, chicken, and housesitting gig. We stayed the weekend tucked in from the weather with some goofy dogs and a warm fireplace.

  • We made a 4 mile drive up a curvy road for provisions. The drive took almost 30 minutes.
  • Hangin out with Pip and Squirt …
  • … and the chickens. Plus one rascally rooster.

Over the weekend we saw that the forecast for the entire next week was going to continue to be winter storms. We canceled our plans for camping on the coast in Arcata and instead found a sweet little Airbnb in Diamond Springs for the week. Kayla is digging in to work, Matthew is working on getting a Bettie Mobile Canopy designed and fabricated, and everyone is staying warm, dry, and muddy-chicken free for a week.

2 thoughts on “Into the Storms”

  1. Dear K & M, Yikes re the weather, here too. Hazel was delivered from Juneau on Wed according to the flt info 10:30 pm which meant 1:30am, but all is well. Probably got dumped about 6 inches or so, so far today.
    HEY!! I was a 3rd thru 7th grade kid in Redlands by golly. When my dad retired, he worked for a bunch of years at the library at the Redlands College, now university. I did my first acting gig in the Redlands Bowl, was chastised for sitting down, oh well.
    Drive careful. Great to hear from you. Aloha, Jeff B

    Reply

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