"I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it." - Terry Pratchett

I wonder if Steve & Michelle have seen these? 

No vacation pics today, not because I didn't take any but because the camera is out in the car and I don't feel like fetching it.

We're in a ridiculously overpriced Best Western in Santa Rosa, about 70 miles north of SFO. I'll drop Pam off at about 8 a.m. for her flight home, so we wanted to be no more than 90 minutes out, and there aren't any campgrounds around here that weren't equally overpriced. So, TWO queen size beds, a hot shower that doesn't have a cement floor and 40 other people using it, and the first TV in two weeks. (But I can't find either sports or car shows.)

The 8-hour drive down Hwy 101 from Humbug Mountain State Park in southern Oregon was a tough one. About 80% of it was 2-lane, winding, and up & down hills. The roadway was surprisingly poor in too many places, especially in CA. Budget crisis? We saw one bad accident with a car over the side.
The chances of getting behind a tired Winnebago pulling a Toyota are directly proportional to the distance to the next stretch with a passing lane. Uff-dah.
A tiring 500 miles.

Maybe it's because we're pulling one but I don't remember seeing any teardrops on the road before, never mind as many as we encountered on this trip. In our campground last night I talked to two guys - friends or perhaps father/son-in-law - who had matching teardrops they'd built at the same time from purchased plans. Basic plywood models with a flat top, barn door galley, no electric, and epoxy painted sides. We shared stories and compared our layouts. Today at lunch we talked with a guy who built his own without plans. It was a funny looking thing with a shell made of masonite, but he had cycle style fenders and taillights from a '32 Chevy. We also saw several commercially made models. 


We agree that our trailer and the whole experience with it has been an unmitigated success. We didn't have any rain so we don't know how it will do in that situation but we had no problem sleeping well with the cozy cabin and the galley was perfect for our needs. Hot soup from the microwave, coffee from the coffee maker, a cooler that held everything we needed and cupboards for utensils, pans, etc. We never used the small cabin heater because it's so well insulated that our body heat kept us plenty warm. We had the windows and top vent open slightly even with temps in the low-50's so that condensation didn't build up. It towed easily, could be set up and made ready to roll in under 10 minutes, and drew lots of comments. 
I suspect we're going to find a way to use it for some 2- or 3-day trips before next year's vacation. 


Josh & Aubri have been at the Crossfit games in Carson, CA for the week with the team from their gym. Josh is one of the six team members, and their team was one of 34 from around the country to qualify out of regionals. They had hoped for a top ten finish and didn't quite make that, but they finished in the top half. Watch for coverage on ESPN3 and see the crazy physical tests these athletes get put through. Josh's performance at that level is proof that genetics is not the ultimate predictor. 


Today I learned that a cicerone (sis-uh-RONE) is to beer what a barrista is to coffee or a sommelier is to wine. Had no idea. 


I feel like I've been disconnected from the world for two weeks. Can't decided if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Maybe some of both. I think it's noteworthy that Pam and I have been together 24 hours a day for about 8 days without a cross word between us. (She's exemplifies longsuffering.) And I think we could go another 1 or 2 days at it. But for now, a HOT shower with lots of water, and bed. Lots more driving tomorrow.