Sunday April 13, '14

I'm in Salinas, staying with John's sister Paula.  Yesterday I left Santa Nella headed into a west wind that wasn't too bad--I think that it blew itself out over night.  Pacheco Pass is a pretty smooth freeway these days, with an extra slow truck lane at all of the places I wanted to trudge along at a slow 45 to 50 mph.  I cleared my Fuel "Economy " meter for the climb and found that I averaged between 7 and 8 mpg going uphill, so I'm not sure that going extra slow made much difference.

I did stop at Casa de Fruita--it is now a major tourist spot.  I first remember stopping at a little dried fruit stand probably 40 years ago when Pacheco Pass was a two-lane terrifying crawl through the mountains.  But it has grown to the point that there is a big fruit/nuts/oils/jams/artichoke/and whatever store.  There is also a Casa de Pizza, Casa de Wine, Casa de Restaurant . . .  And buses full of foreign tourists.  It reminded me of Dole Plantation in Hawaii.

I made it to Paula's by noon--got to explore the beautiful yard and visit with Boy, Paula's cat, and Bela, the dog, named after Bela Fleck.  They are both getting on in age, but are clearly enjoying life.  Boy is a bit stiff in the joints and Bela has cataracts.

We met Maria, an old friend who has worked as a designer in Paula's flower shop for years.  We all had dinner at Gino's, a fantastic Italian place.  We toured Salinas's old town area--it is looking very prosperous and well kept, with new construction being tucked in here and there.

It is a bit grey but comfortably warm.  I'm headed south down 101 today, driving to the hills above Santa Barbara to stay for five days at Rancho Oso while I visit with my step-mom and her husband, Marge and Bill.

I'll post some pictures from yesterday and this morning this evening--sorry to be slow for the picture lovers!