Back in Long Beach

Goodnight Sue!
Goodnight Sonia!

In Memoriam.

Friends,

On this trip, we realized how rough it is out here for furry creatures big and small. On our way up interstate 5, we started counting the fallen and below you'll find a list of critters that unfortunately won't make it to this year's Thanksgiving dinner.

Please be careful out there. These guys may not be as big as we are, but I'm sure they have their skunk wives and racoon husbands waiting at home for them. If you're going to be on the road, think of these guys and pay attention.

In memoriam.

5 racoons
4 deer
1 rat
4 mice
6 skunks
2 possums
2 birds
3 squirrels
6 unrecognizable buddies

And let's not forget the bugs. So many, many bugs.

May you all come back as SUV drivers in your next life.

Last Stretch

Yes, she's yawning. Yes, that's her giant family-sized Redbull.

We'll be home in 86 miles.

Wish us luck.

The Chupacabra Hunter

File this under "shit you see on California roads."

We saw a truck with the words Cazador del Chupacabras, which roughly translates to "Goatsucker Hunter." If you're not familiar with the myth of the chupacabra, do us a favor and Wikipedia it, we promise it's worth it, if only so you have a scary story in your pocket the next time you go camping.

Good luck, guy. Go get a chupacabra...then go after Big Foot, the Lochness Monster, and the New Jersey Devil. We'll judge you, but we'll do it silently, just in case we ever need to enlist your services.

Julia Pfeiffer State Beach

4:30 Update

Location: Santa Maria
Song: Dixie Chicks, "The Long Way Round"
Favorite thing: Stormy weather
Challenge: none
Looking forward to: my bed

Day 4: Goodbye Monterey, Hello Road

This was supposed to be posted earlier, but we didn't have a signal.

We are now at Hearst Castle in San Simeon.

_______________________________________

Monterey is growing smaller in the rear view mirror.  Sue and I are listening to "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" as we drive down to Pfeiffer State Beach in Big Sur, arguably the most beautiful coast section of California. We've seen beautiful beaches so far, so if Michelle Pfeiffer Beach, as we've been jokingly calling it, is better, then Sue Ellen may just have to drive home alone.

I'll set up an organic nouveau Mexican coffee shop where I can give directions and advice, and host dinners with artists, writers, and expats.

For now, here is an update:

Location: Pablo Coronado
Challenge: Rain, aggressive drivers
Favorite thing: Imagination
Song: UB40, "Red Red Wine"