Road Trip Day 2

I left my friends' house around 7:30 am this morning, just in time to hit Sacramento's rush-hour traffic. (I seem to have a knack for that.)

The traffic wasn't unexpected, however. Eventually I found myself on Hwy. 5 heading south. Southbound traffic was flowing fine, but northbound traffic got caught behind an accident, leaving those poor commuters stuck in a miles-long queue.

Lots and lots of orchards along this route, a reminder of how vast California's agricultural heritage is.

Eventually the highway looped to the left and paralleled the Coastal Range of hills.

The highway had an unobtrusive exit leading to a "vista" at top of a small hill, and impulsively I took it. I was rewarded with some modestly splendid views of the highway and the coastal range.

Despite California's famously crowded conditions, it was a good reminder that large portions of the state are thinly populated.

The vista also offered views of the famous California Aqueduct.

Continuing south, I passed what looked at first like a small grove of grapes, trained along trellises like grapes. It turns out they were ... prickly pears! I barely caught a photo as I drove by.

Eventually I hooked a right off Hwy. 5 and traversed the Coastal Range toward Paso Robles.

Once along Hwy. 101, the landscape was what I think of as the classic California landscape: rolling hills abundantly dotted with live oaks.

Then I saw my first glimpse of the ocean! I think I was in Pismo Beach. I haven't seen the ocean in decades.

I finally made it to my parents' house. As you can imagine, it was quite the reunion not only with my folks, but with Younger Daughter whom I haven't seen in three and a half years.

Unfortunately I have to work for the next three days, but on Sunday – Younger Daughter's 25th birthday – we plan to hit the beach, go to lunch, and get a lemon meringue pie (her favorite) as a birthday treat.

Thank you for all your prayers during my trip. They worked. I'm here safe and sound.