Home again, home again....

So, this adventure is coming to an end. Starting to develop a little horse to the barn syndrome. Not that I'm really ready to end this sojourn, I could easily make a full time life style of this, but the reality of reality and resumption of life pre is raising it's insistent head. Back to the land of routine, schedules, bills, responsibility (not that there isn't enough of that on the road), stress, work (funny how those two words naturally find themselves next to each other), and social mores. And, of course, there is the anticipation of routine, schedules, lodging bigger than 6 x 12, consistent source of water and electricity, indoor plumbing, indoor kitchen, resumption of relationships with missed friends and prospect of a positive cash flow. 

We are on night 2 at Pismo State Beach. It's Monday and the place is near empty. Was quite busy over the weekend, I 'm told. Spent the day hanging out in San Luis Obispo. Looking for lunch (our day typically starts late!) we went to one of the 3 brew pubs in town. Central Coast Brewing Co. is the only one open. The manager stays if he has to be there working anyway he might as well try to sell some beer. A really cool operation. A large eclectic assortment of brews with summer emphasis on Belgian style. I settled on a brown ale that was produced by a homebrewer who had won a recent competition with first prize to be brewer for a day and make his beer at their brewery in large capacity. While we were there the manager maintained a continuous dialog about beer, the brewing business, local competition, changing public tastes and  knowledge. And as he talked he kept giving us tastes of different brews. They also do a cool thing by allowing individuals, for a price of course, to brew their own small batch. Popular with frat boys, brides maids for batchlorette parties and CEOs for team building. On his recommendation we went downtown for lunch. I had a salmon bisque, Sarah, lamb patty salad. Both quite satisfying. 

Herman has had his morning constitutional walk, fed and watered. Coffee made. Sarah preparing our usual sandwiches for lunch. We'll shortly move everything to the floor, fold down the trailer and blow out of San Francisco. Parked last 2 nights at Golden Gate RV Park just north of Sausalito which is convenient to visit our friends Bill and Shirley. Spent the day touring the ex-military base at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge and watched the vip debate last night (the first TV we've watched since this trip started). Will plan to stay a few nights with friends on the Rogue River then home. 

California dreaming.....

In San Luis Obispo at Central Coast Brewing Co. Only one of 3 breweries open on Monday. Manager friendly and putting chairs down to open as we we walk in. No food but local eateries will deliver if desired. Long chat about beer and brewing. Recently sponsored home brew fest with first prize to brew own beer in their brewery.

Staying at Oceana St. Park. Initially tried to camp on the beach but came close to getting stuck in sand. Had to rev it up like going thru snow. Sand in every crevice! Now a nice wooded park with families enjoying Columbus day holiday and gearing up to tear up the sand with dune buggies. One more night here then on to S.F. to visit friends.

Yea, though I walk thru the shadow of the valley...

It's been an exciting 48 hrs. After leaving Vegas early we went to where it can actually get worse....Death Valley! Wanted to see it. Wanted to say I've been there. Wanted to sleep under the largest clearest night sky possible. We drive into the park along with tour buses and Germans. We visit the visitor center and book store. We check out the campground. On a bluff overlooking a vast expanse of nothing there is only one other vehicle there and it's 103 deg. We go to the Inn near by to have a beer, sit on their porch with misters dropping the temperature to an acceptable level and discuss there rationality of camping out. By 3pm it's 113! We figure it's pretty crazy to attempt to camp waiting for darkness and a not guarentee drop in temperature. So we drive west assuming we'll get out of this valley and find a nice camp someplace not so inhospitable. Going from 127 ft below sea level to 4500 ft in second gear at 25 mph had me concerned that my transmission would blow. Then discovering this is not out but just a mountain range within, we had to stop 3 times going back down to sea level to cool breaks. White knuckled and sweating from stress in addition to heat we limp in to Panamint Springs gas/restaurant/motel/RV camp. We take a campsite with a view of a flat shimmering plain surrounded by blue mountains. Our life saved, with sun setting we stare in awe from the veranda savoring a cold beer and the best pizza ever. At first light, Sarah is up, trailer is packed, breakfast is declined (coffee at the gas station) and we are out of there..........

More later but as an update........we are now on the beach about 20 miles north of L.A. and Island Brewing Company is with in walking distance of the state park where we are camped.........

Towers for towers....

Las Vegas........we have traded the spectacular imposing sandstone monoliths in Zion for just as imposing yet oppressive and obscene towers of Las Vegas. Our serene tree lined campground inhabited by mule deer is now a huge asphalt parking lot behind Circus Circus populated by tourists in rented RVs. The sun coming up over the Sahara (casino not desert!) is spectacular but we will get out of this town as soon as I get off this computer. I don't gamble, can't afford the shows and don't have "proper attire" for the good restaurants....there isn't much for me in Vegas. Sarah and I walked the strip for an hour yesterday afternoon and partook in the culinary wonderment of the all-you-can eat buffet along with bus loads of French and Asian tourists. Altho night is when the strip supposedly comes alive, we went to bed in the heat counting the hours until we could leave this hell hole!